As I write this it is the second day of summer and I am already done with the heat. Naturally, I was then asking myself who may have it worse off then I do in this heat.I began to think of animals in the desert and what methods they use to stay cool.

A lot of desert animals are crepuscular. This means that they are active during  dawn and dusk. Some are nocturnal which show up during the night time hours.Animals that are diurnal and up during the day usually will find a shady spot or they can move so fast that the time of contact with the hot surface is minimal.

A Round tailed ground squirrel can put themselves in a deep sleep called estivation. Water-holding frogs wrap themselves up in a water tight cocoon so it keeps the moisture in. Aborigines in Australia will sometimes dig these guys up and squeeze gently to release the water and drink it.

Animals such as rabbits tend to release the heat from their ears

Vultures will urinate on their legs, this is called urohydrosis

Next time you come to the museum look and see how some of our animals cope with the heat:

Bears will be swimming or lounging in the shade

Wolves can be found sometimes on the cliff where they have dug themselves a nice cool hole

Christopher the Owl may be seen breathing through his mouth

What ways might the pigs, sheep and other animals cool themselves naturally?