Splooting season is here early this year in Texas! If you’ve stepped outside in Texas lately, you’ve probably asked yourself: Is this the sun’s revenge? With May temperatures already soaring into the triple digits across parts of Texas, it turns out, we’re not the only ones feeling the burn- so are the squirrels!

In short, it's so hot in Texas the squirrels are melting! Well, kind of. Animals all have different ways of keeping cool but I think that the way squirrels do it is kind of genius! The Texas Parks and Wildlife has mentioned before that in order to keep cool, squirrels do something that is called "splooting". Funny name, but survival tactic!

What is Splooting?

According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, this splooting behavior helps squirrels cool off by pressing their bodies against cooler surfaces like shaded sidewalks, dirt, or decks. It’s a natural form of temperature regulation- and apparently, squirrels are experts at going full pancake mode when things get hot.

The term, which the Washington Post says is another way of saying "heat dumping",  started floating around a few years ago when another video of a squirrel (this time in New York) was seen splooting and people got concerned thinking that the squirrel died!

Fortunately, the squirrel was okay, and now it looks like we're seeing squirrels splooting in Texas!  The squirrels perform this move to reduce body heat on cool surfaces. Which sounds kind of genius.

Other animals that are splooting? Dogs! You might see dogs stretching their hind legs more this summer, and possibly other animals; so don't be alarmed if you do see animals splooting! When it's over 100 in the Lone Star state I may also end up splooting!