Have you ever wondered how animals stay cool when the weather heats up? Check out these creative ways to beat the heat:
- Pelicans, cormorants and other birds create “internal fans” by rapidly fluttering their throat pouches.
- Pigs wallow in mud to cool off – evaporative cooling occurs as the mud dries; mud also protects pigs’ skin from the sun.
- Sea lions float in the water like rafts, holding their flippers up. Blood vessels that are just underneath the skin dilate to release heat.
- Burrowing owls escape the hot sun by seeking shelter in underground burrows that they build or borrow from other animals, such as armadillos, tortoises or prairie dogs.
Viewer Tip: Many animals sleep or rest in the shade during the hottest part of the day and increase their activity during the evening, night and early morning hours. You can beat the heat by following their lead – minimize time spent outdoors during the hottest part of the day and save intensive outdoor sports and gardening activities for the evening or early morning hours. When you do spend time outside, seek shade and apply sunscreen regularly.
Season: Summer
(Sources: SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Discovery Cove and the Conservation Fund. “Wild Ways to Stay Cool,” Wildlife, July 2009. http://www.swbg-animals.org/wildlife/2009/jul/index.htm?src=2009WODsilverpopWildlifeJulyRATM; University of Minnesota Extension. “Minimizing Heat Stress in Pigs During the Summer.” http://www.extension.umn.edu/swine/components/pubs/Whitney-MinimizingHeatStress.pdf; “California Sea Lion.” http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/california-sea-lion/adaptations.htm)
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