Others are still waiting for a crisp, cool breeze and of course, a dash of color. Trees will soon turn hues of red, orange ...

The affected alligators are currently emerging from brumation - similar to hibernation in mammals - and over the past few months, these factors have led them to appear orange to onlookers.

according to the South Carolina Aquarium. Brumating alligators settle into mud holes to stay warm on cold days, which can give them a distinctive orange color. “Usually, an orange alligator is ...