Tag: Squirrel Adventure

Social media captures Southern California squirrels “splooting” in midst of sweltering heat wave

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Prairie dog resting in dry grass beside a winding rural road

With sweltering heat still lingering over Southern California, many social media users have started capturing an adorable phenomenon sweeping across the region’s squirrel population — splooting.  Splooting, also called pancaking, is when a squirrel or animal lies flat on its stomach and spreads its legs to cool down.  “They’re just trying to keep cool in this heat like everyone else is,” said one Los Angeles park-goer, who couldn’t help but laugh at the silliness of the tactic. According to wildlife experts, there’s a more scientific reason behind it. 

“So, often animals do something called behavioral thermoregulation,” said UC Davis biologist Dr. Daniel Karp. “Which is a super fancy way of saying they’re just gonna go into the shade, or into their burrow, or some place to seek shelter from that heat.” A Reddit thread chronicled the “Squirrel Splooting Spell,” with one user capturing three different squirrels keeping cool on the same roof.  Sam Ramirez, a wildlife technician who owns Humane Pest Control, said that squirrel splooting is very common when the weather gets hot.  “Unfortunately, they don’t have AC available to them, so they’re using their natural resources,” Ramirez said.

“It’s the animals, it’s us, it’s everybody.” He said it’s very important that resources available to squirrels and other wildlife remain natural, even when it’s especially tempting to put out water.  “We don’t want to take care of them. Wildlife can take care of themselves,” Ramirez said. “Wildlife are supposed to remain wild, and it’s our natural instinct to want to help out. … Let wildlife be; they know what they’re doing.” He said that by leaving out food or water, it can cause animals to become dependent on people and less likely to survive in the wild. Ramirez and other experts say that humans can help by giving them plenty of space to sploot, and create shady areas for them to rest in times of high heat. 

Source: Social media captures Southern California squirrels “splooting” in midst of sweltering heat wave – CBS Los Angeles

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling.
Ephesians 4:4

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Kamikaze squirrel goes flying in cannon blast for America 250, all he wanted to be was a flying squirrel 😄

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Close-up of a grey squirrel with open mouth and wide eyes on a tree branch.

He took escape plans to nutty new heights. An acrobatic squirrel in Brooklyn got so spooked when soldiers fired a ceremonial cannon Thursday morning, it hurled itself off a telephone pole — and lived to tell the tale, according to wild footage and officials. The freaked-out furball threw itself into the air kamikaze-style and plunged dozens of feet after Army members blasted the cannon to welcome a German warship at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn during America 250 celebrations ahead of the Fourth of July, military officials said. ‘“’I didn’t sign up for this,’— This squirrel, probably,” USAG Fort Hamilton hilariously posted, along with the footage, on Facebook Thursday. “Sorry for the early boom, Brooklyn! We promise it’s for a good cause. (The squirrel remains unconvinced.),” it added.

Source: Kamikaze squirrel goes flying in cannon blast for America 250

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
Galatians 5:17

Hunted for Following Jesus

In some communities, Muslims who leave Islam to follow Christ face rejection, threats, violence, and even death because of their faith. For Muslim-background believers, choosing to follow Jesus can…

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Baby Squirrel Foster Mom

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new born squirrel covered with white linen fabric

Retired California teaching assistant Angel Barba has been a baby squirrel foster mom for the last seven years. 

Source: Squirrel Foster Mom You Tube

But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Matthew 19:30