It’s been a painfully hot August in Central Texas.
Temperatures have hit 100 degrees for 18 days in a row – but if it’s any consolation, it’s not just humans that are struggling in the blistering heat.
People have noticed that squirrels have been laying down flat on their stomachs with their legs stretched behind them (aka 'splooting'), apparently slowed to a complete stop in the soaring temperatures.
Though the small mammals might look like they’re in stealth mode, it turns out they’re just trying to cool off.
Jill Calcote, of Moonshine Wildlife Rehabilitation in Cedar Park, came up with an analogy to explain why squirrels have been seen “splooting” on the ground.
“It’s super hot here in Texas right now, obviously, and those squirrels are basically just trying to cool themselves,” she said.
“I think of my child not feeling well on the bathroom floor — they spread out on the tiles. That’s exactly what the squirrels are doing.”
“They are basically getting as much of their body on a cooler surface. If it’s cooler than the air outside, they’re going to put their body on it and it’s going to cool their temperature,” she added.
Photo: Getty Images