Ever see a squirrel or other animal do this pose? Here’s what it means
Hint: it’s a sign of trouble, and it’s a pose that animals could assume more and more in the United States in a warmer future.
With high summer temperatures taking their toll, squirrels have been seen “splooting” in order to keep cool.
On July 17, 2023, Patricia Chavez came across a squirrel in her backyard lying in an unusual position: it was sprawled out on its stomach, legs stretched out. In other words, it was "splooting."
But what exactly is splooting? It turns out, it's a technique that some animals turn to in order to lower their body temperatures during times of excessive heat.
Temperatures that day in Spring Branch, Texas, located north of San Antonio, rose to around 104 degrees and dropped only as low as the 70s overnight. And with plenty of summer heat still ahead, this may become a common sight -- but not just with squirrels.
With the exception of his flicking tail, a black squirrel lays flat out while enjoying some bird seed in a yard in Moreland Hills, Ohio on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Squirrels, cats, dogs and even bears, as a photo from the National Park Service shows, have been seen splooting. And while it may appear to be adorable animal behavior, it can at times be a sign that the animals are experiencing temperatures much higher than what they're accustomed to.
"Many mammals have less fur on their bellies compared to the rest of their body, so on hot days, the animals will lie flat on their stomach against cooler surfaces, such as rocks or cooler ground, to shed some heat and keep cool," Dan Blumstein, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Los Angles, told AccuWeather in an interview during the summer of 2022 when squirrels were spotted splooting in New York City.
Natalie Rubino, director of marketing for Big Dog Ranch Rescue, told AccuWeather that pet owners should do these three things to keep their furry friends safe in hot weather: limit extraneous activities, watch out for dehydration and to be cognizant of the impact heat has on the environment. Big Dog Ranch Rescue is a dog rescue shelter based in Okeechobee, Florida, and is no stranger to facing warm weather.
"If you are someone that walks your dog every day, it's very important to pay attention to the heat outside as the pavement temperatures can get into an excess and cause blistering and be very damaging and hurtful to a dog," Rubino said. "So it's important to make sure you're walking your dog early in the morning or late in the evening."
A dog drinks fresh water from a public fountain as her owner cools it down by wetting her pet's fur after a midday walk on the Griffith Observatory trails in Los Angeles Friday, July 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
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To keep their dogs cool while playing outside, Rubino said they place pools in each of the play yards and keep an eye out for any signs of dehydration.
"You're going to see an excessive amount of drooling, heavy panting. They're going to feel hot," Rubino explained. "Those are definitely signs that you want to get your dog cool. The number one important reminder which we have to talk about during this summer and especially during a heat wave is please don't leave your dogs in any vehicle. Within minutes, a dog can die and the temperatures rise exponentially within a matter of minutes."
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