Alligators are cold-blooded animals. Therefore, their body temperatures adjust to surrounding temperatures. When cold, they may become inactive like these alligators and will search for a sunny area or dig down into the mud under water. Alligators are generally more active when the weather is warm. Observed from the safety of the Anhinga Trail boardwalk, this alligator hides partially submerged in the grassy waters-edge of Taylor Slough.
Alligators are patient predators.
Their diet can include waterbirds, fish, turtles, small mammals and other alligators. Long Pine Key A panoramic view of the Long Pine Key pine forest surrounding a small lake. The forest contains slash pines with an understory of saw palmettos, wildflowers and ferns. Plants that grow in the pinelands must be resistant to fire as areas such as these are maintained by fire. Fires are beneficial to the pines as young pine seedlings require lots of sunlight to survive, and the fires destroy hardwood competitors.