Animals are known to adapt to their environments, but in the case of these alligators, they’ve literally changing their colors depending on what’s around them. Fox Weather reports that photographer Dan Krieger captured photo and video of what he initially thought was a burnt log on the Little River in South Carolina.

South Carolina alligators are turning orange due to clay-rich soil and rusty pipes. Photographer Dan Krieger captured the viral phenomenon, which experts link to brumation, a reptilian winter dormancy similar to hibernation.

In a bizarre turn of events, alligators in South Carolina are turning orange. It’s a strange but true happening. And, of course, people have so many questions. How and why are these alligators turning orange?