Apparently MCR has a squirrel jacuzzi. This furry friend took “splooting” to a new level by relaxing pool-side and dipping half its body in the water at the top of the bubbling water feature in our bird feeder garden. Squirrels have adopted a unique way to cool off called the “sploot”. Squirrels’ underbellies have less fur than the rest of their body so by pressing their stomachs to cool surfaces like shady rocks, walkways or concrete while stretching out their arms and legs, they can reduce their body heat. In more “scientific” terms, splooting is known as “heat dumping.” Basically, the contact with a cooler surface allows heat from the body to be transferred or ‘dumped’ to the cooler object.
Categories
Tags
animals
bears
Birds
blackberrys
blog
boating
Bramble
dogs
drone
eagles
ephemerals
fish
fish cribs
Forest
forestry
frog
FSP
Grouse
habitat
hawks
images
insects
Invasive species
kayaking
MCR
Merrill Creek
Merrill Creek reservoir
migration
NJ Youth Corps
owls
plants
pollinator garden
raptors
raspberry
safety
Spring
Stewardship
structure
sumac
turtles
volunteer
weather
Wildlife
Wineberry
Xerces