The alligator spotted swimming in the waters near Erie, Pennsylvania will probably die soon unless someone catches it and takes it to somewhere more hospitable to cold-blooded aquatic reptiles, the Erie Times News reports after having consulted with the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife for an expert opinion that could have been found in a third grade science textbook.

“Alligators control their body temperature by basking in the sun or moving to areas with warmer or cooler air or water temperatures. Alligators are most active when temperatures are between 82 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit or 28 degrees to 33 degrees Celsius. They stop feeding when the ambient temperature drops below approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit or 21 degrees Celsius, and they become dormant and enter brumation below 55 degrees Fahrenheit or 13 degrees Celsius,” wrote FLauren Claerbout, FWC public information coordinator in an email after being asked what might happen to the gator spotted in the second-smallest Great Lake several times since August.

It’s actually not impossible for the beast to survive the winter in the lake, even if the surface freezes, though it will take plenty of luck. The alligator will need to remain in a shallow area along the shore and its snout above the surface to continue breathing while it goes into a state of semi-torpor. It will also still need access to liquid water to stay hydrated. The local paper warns readers not to approach the alligator, even if it appears to be frozen, since it could wake up and attack.