As the weather heats up, we find ways to keep our pets and ourselves cool and comfortable. Don’t you ever wonder about wild animals and how they deal with the heat? Here are four ways wild animals deal with the scorching temperatures:
Swimming
Yes, just like us and our pets, wild animals find some cool water and take a swim when it’s hot outside. Not only is water important for drinking when the temperatures climb, but it can also lower an animal’s body temperature when they take a swim. Birds bathe themselves in any convenient puddle, splashing their wings and getting their feathers wet. Amphibious animals like toads, frogs and lizards need water to keep their skin moist as well as cool. Even some mammals with fir like to take a dip to cool off during the hot summer months.
While wild animals prefer deep pools of open water, they’ll settle for a puddle, condensation or leaky faucet, so be aware of outside water sources around your home attracting wild life. People who live near streams or lakes may notice wild animals approaching more than usual during the summer heat, looking for a place to cool off.
Hiding
Snakes, since they are cold blooded, need to stay cool and survive. Lizards, frogs and turtles wouldn’t live more than a few hours in the blazing summer sun. These animals look for shelter and shade to get their body temperature down to a normal level. Even warm-blooded animals need to shelter from the sun to keep from getting heat stroke.
Opossums, rats, mice, chipmunks, coyotes and more look for secluded patches of shade when the weather gets too hot for them to handle. They’ll be happier in tree roots or branches, leafy bushes, abandoned animal dens and sometimes structures meant for human use.
Digging
Some animals are burrowers by nature such as voles, gophers or moles. Since they are cool already in their underground lairs, they stay put there during the heat of the day. Skunks are also known to burrow under porches or decks to create a cool space for themselves. In the evenings, these animals come out to look for food and water.
The deeper these animals dig, the cooler the earth will be. As the sun moves, the walls of their burrow give them natural shade. Animals that burrow deep tunnels may make a set that is extra deep just to beat the heat. Even animals that don’t typically dig a home for themselves may burrow just because of the heat. Snakes, for instance, may wiggle enough to cover themselves with a layer of soil for shade.
Napping
Whether they burrow themselves a home or find a nice hiding place, most wild animals will sleep during the heat of the day. Some animals sleep their way through the entire summer, the opposite of hibernation. This is known as estivation and involves a deep sleep somewhere safe when the animal’s metabolism slows down, allowing them to survive without food or water for a while. Estivation keeps the animal’s body cool, where hibernation keeps them warm. Some animals that practice estivation include different species of turtles, frogs and even bees.
Even animals that do not practice estivation will sleep when it’s scorching outside, like our friend the lion here. Animals that are nocturnal anyway, like opossums and raccoons, may sleep during the hot daytime hours, keeping their main activity for nighttime when the sun isn’t out.
What do you like to do to cool off when it’s hot outside?
