#shallowmud — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #shallowmud, aggregated by home.social.
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Bizarre ways #Massachusetts #wildlife beat the heat as state braces for 100+ degree week
By Liesel Nygard
Jun. 30, 2026"As Massachusetts prepares to face a brutal and prolonged heat wave that could push heat indices well past 100 degrees this week, local wildlife is already equipped with bizarre and fascinating methods to survive the sweltering temperatures.
"An extreme heat warning is in effect for most of the state from 10 a.m. Wednesday through 8 p.m. Saturday. The impending conditions are commonly referred to as a heat dome, with peak heat index values expected to range from 98 to 112 degrees across the region as the week progresses.
"National Weather Service meteorologist Rob Megnia clarified that the system references an extended ridge of high pressure in the upper atmosphere, noting in an interview with MassLive that the technical makeup creates 'a big plume of heat that’s going to be covering the whole East Coast.'
"While human residents are advised to stay indoors, avoid strenuous activity and constantly hydrate, New England’s wild animals rely on a mix of unique physiological adaptations and behavioral shifts to cool down.
"Much like a domestic dog on a hot afternoon, wild members of the canid and cervid families — including coyotes, deer and moose — use thermal #panting to evaporate moisture from their tongues and lower their body temperatures. Certain birds, such as owls and cormorants, rapidly vibrate their throats in a similar biological strategy known as gular fluttering, according to the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.
"Other avian species have more dramatic or unusual solutions. Great blue herons spread their wings in a statue-like yoga pose to catch cool breezes on patches of skin with fewer feathers.
"Meanwhile, turkey vultures and northern gannets practice urohidrosis, purposely defecating on their featherless legs so the evaporating waste cools down their blood vessels.
"Harbor seals employ a similar marine tactic, urinating on their hind flippers to thermoregulate while sunbathing, according to state experts.
"Survival in extreme heat also demands dynamic shifts in scenery and wardrobe. When temperatures climb, amphibians and reptiles seek out cooler microclimates beneath rotting logs or underneath leaf litter, while bears and moose look for shelter in forested #wetlands or #ShallowMud.
"In addition to adopting more nocturnal or dawn-and-dusk routines to avoid the hottest parts of the day, mammals like fishers and coyotes shed their thick winter fur.
"Bobcats take it a step further by growing a thinner coat with fewer spots and redder fur to seamlessly blend into their summer habitats, according to the state.
"Wildlife biologists emphasize that wild animals almost never need human intervention to survive extreme weather, but residents can take small steps to turn their yards into natural cooling oases.
"Residents are encouraged to grow #NativePlants for shade and to provide small, shallow #WaterStations for bugs, birds and pollinators.
"However, state officials advise regularly scrubbing out bird baths and removing standing water to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis.
"They also strongly warn against intentionally feeding wildlife, noting that doing so artificially congregates animals in a single spot, increasing the risk of disease spread and eroding their natural caution around people."
#SolarPunkSunday #GardeningForWildlife #GardeningForPollinators #BeeWateringStations #BirdBaths #Heatwave #Heatwaves #BackyardWildlife #KeepCool #KeepingCool
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Bizarre ways #Massachusetts #wildlife beat the heat as state braces for 100+ degree week
By Liesel Nygard
Jun. 30, 2026"As Massachusetts prepares to face a brutal and prolonged heat wave that could push heat indices well past 100 degrees this week, local wildlife is already equipped with bizarre and fascinating methods to survive the sweltering temperatures.
"An extreme heat warning is in effect for most of the state from 10 a.m. Wednesday through 8 p.m. Saturday. The impending conditions are commonly referred to as a heat dome, with peak heat index values expected to range from 98 to 112 degrees across the region as the week progresses.
"National Weather Service meteorologist Rob Megnia clarified that the system references an extended ridge of high pressure in the upper atmosphere, noting in an interview with MassLive that the technical makeup creates 'a big plume of heat that’s going to be covering the whole East Coast.'
"While human residents are advised to stay indoors, avoid strenuous activity and constantly hydrate, New England’s wild animals rely on a mix of unique physiological adaptations and behavioral shifts to cool down.
"Much like a domestic dog on a hot afternoon, wild members of the canid and cervid families — including coyotes, deer and moose — use thermal #panting to evaporate moisture from their tongues and lower their body temperatures. Certain birds, such as owls and cormorants, rapidly vibrate their throats in a similar biological strategy known as gular fluttering, according to the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.
"Other avian species have more dramatic or unusual solutions. Great blue herons spread their wings in a statue-like yoga pose to catch cool breezes on patches of skin with fewer feathers.
"Meanwhile, turkey vultures and northern gannets practice urohidrosis, purposely defecating on their featherless legs so the evaporating waste cools down their blood vessels.
"Harbor seals employ a similar marine tactic, urinating on their hind flippers to thermoregulate while sunbathing, according to state experts.
"Survival in extreme heat also demands dynamic shifts in scenery and wardrobe. When temperatures climb, amphibians and reptiles seek out cooler microclimates beneath rotting logs or underneath leaf litter, while bears and moose look for shelter in forested #wetlands or #ShallowMud.
"In addition to adopting more nocturnal or dawn-and-dusk routines to avoid the hottest parts of the day, mammals like fishers and coyotes shed their thick winter fur.
"Bobcats take it a step further by growing a thinner coat with fewer spots and redder fur to seamlessly blend into their summer habitats, according to the state.
"Wildlife biologists emphasize that wild animals almost never need human intervention to survive extreme weather, but residents can take small steps to turn their yards into natural cooling oases.
"Residents are encouraged to grow #NativePlants for shade and to provide small, shallow #WaterStations for bugs, birds and pollinators.
"However, state officials advise regularly scrubbing out bird baths and removing standing water to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis.
"They also strongly warn against intentionally feeding wildlife, noting that doing so artificially congregates animals in a single spot, increasing the risk of disease spread and eroding their natural caution around people."
#SolarPunkSunday #GardeningForWildlife #GardeningForPollinators #BeeWateringStations #BirdBaths #Heatwave #Heatwaves #BackyardWildlife #KeepCool #KeepingCool