Sploot! There's a Good Reason You've Seen So Many Spread-Eagle Squirrels This Summer

Splayed out on windowsills, concrete steps, tree branches, fire escapes, and back porches… what is going on with the squirrels lately?

Well, it turns out that this odd summertime behavior is called "heat dumping," and we could all learn a thing or two from it.

As noted squirrel researcher Mikel Maria Delgado, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in animal behavior at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, explained to Gothamist, the spread-eagle squirrel sploot is not a symptom of the squirrel plague. It's actually completely normal heat-wave behavior analogous to humans (or bears!) lounging in a pool, lake, or sprinkler.

"The squirrels are just positioning themselves in a way that most efficiently reduces their body heat—it's been observed in tree and ground squirrels, as well as koalas," he explained. "So, they're just trying to cool down, often by laying on a cool surface!"

With their legs spread and their bellies exposed, the furry rodents are sinly putting as much of their bodies as possible in contact with something cool.

"I think of my child not feeling well on the bathroom floor — they spread out on the tiles. That's exactly what the squirrels are doing," Jill Calcote, of Moonshine Wildlife Rehabilitation in Austin, Texas, explained to WGNO. "They are basically getting as much of their body on a cooler surface. If it's cooler than the air outside, they're going to put their body on it and it's going to cool their temperature."

While there are things humans can do to help steamy squirrels out, Calcote urges caution, because these little guys can bite.

"We always suggest that humans give wildlife their space, to watch from a distance," she told the news station. "You can give them water. We don't ever encourage people to feed wildlife but clean water is great."

But most importantly, don't worry. Splooting squirrels are usually OK.

"If they are just laying, sprawled out and looking around, they're fine," Calcote said.

Whatever works, right? Sploot on, sweet squirrels!