It’s not just in New York City that squirrels have been seen “splooting.” Recent reports of the furry tailed parkgoers stretching out with their hind legs has animal lovers concerned. Don’t be concerned however – it’s just a way of cooling off in the recent 95 degree temperatures.
The New York City Parks even tweeted about it hoping to put people at ease:
If you see a squirrel lying down like this, don’t worry; it’s just fine. On Hot days, squirrels keep cool by splooting (stretching out) on cool surfaces to reduce body heat. It is sometimes referred to as heat dumping.
NYC Parks Twitter
For dogs, cats and even bears, splooting is nothing unusual, and there are variations of the pose. For example, one rear leg can be under the body while the other is stretched out behind. Then there is the side sploot, where one leg is stretched out behind the animal and the other leg is stretched out to the side. Then there’s the pose most of us with pets have witnessed – and that’s the full sploot where both legs are stretched out behind them.
And just as there are variations in the splooting positions, there are plenty of names given to the posture just in case you have never heard of “splooting.” Ever hear of the frog pose or better yet one of the most popular – pancaking?
According to the Washington Post: “Sploot is a relatively recent coinage” and has not yet been included in the dictionary just in case you have already looked it. Be assured however, the Oxford English Dictionary is “tracking” the word.
Besides making people smile when they see their pet splooting, and now hopefully as one realizes it’s perfectly normal in the squirrel world, animals just like to stretch out and it surely has to feel good plopping down on the cool grass or floor. Maybe you want to try it?
(Photos via NYC Parks and Pixabay)
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