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How Do Animals Beat the Heat? Thermoregulation!

See all these animals in person at Wildlife Prairie Park

By Bailey Woosley and Anna Lynn of Wildlife Prairie Park June 22, 2016

It’s the start of the warmest time of the year and that means thinking of ways to stay cool. People can wear lighter clothes, stay in the air conditioning, eat frozen food, or jump into a pool when they feel hot. Wild animals don’t have the same ways of keeping cool as people do. Here are a few examples of how different animals beat the summer heat.

Many mammals grow thicker fur to stay warm in the winter months, so when summer comes, they start to shed to reveal a sleek, shiny summer coat. Some mammals can sweat through their skin like we can, but others cannot. Canines like dogs, foxes, coyotes, and wolves open their mouths and pant instead of sweating so the excess heat is released from in their mouths and on their tongues. Many animals, including canines, will also seek shade and water to cool off their bodies.

Reptiles and amphibians cannot control their own body temperature; they are cold blooded. They rely on the temperature of their surroundings to be warm or cool depending on their needs. When a snake, turtle, frog, or lizard gets too hot, it has to find shade, water, or bury itself underground where it is cooler.  Most reptiles and amphibians you see in Illinois are the most active when it is hot and they have the most energy.  In the mornings you can find snakes and turtles basking in the sun to get warmed up for the day.

Birds have their own special ways of cooling off as well. Many birds will take baths or stand in water where they can to stay cool. They have very few feathers and lots of veins in their legs that pump blood close to the surface to cool it down. Birds will also spend their time in shady trees where the sun is not so harsh. Turkey vultures have their own way to cool off: they will go to the bathroom on their legs to cool down. This is why vulture legs appear to be white instead of pink, which is their actual skin color.

While visiting Wildlife Prairie Park on a hot day, be sure to take precautions such as drinking a lot of water and taking time to rest in the shade. That’s also where you will find most of our animals while they, too, try to stay cool. 

Make sure to stop by this weekend for the Olde English Faire!