When temperatures soar, squirrels “sploot.” According to the National Park Service (NPS), “splooting” is when an animal lays spread-eagle, “usually face down with all arms and legs spread out.” NPS says animals might sploot on cool surfaces to help lower their body temperatures. Apparently, the squirrels are splooting in Texas this week as the state faces hot temperatures.
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“Splooting season came early this year,” wrote Texas Parks & Wildlife in an X post from yesterday. “Parts of Texas are facing triple digits. DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS HEAT!”
The post shares a photo with not one, not two, but THREE splooting squirrels.
Texas Parks & Wildlife reminds those living in places with hot temperatures to hydrate, limit outdoor activities, look after loved ones, and check on pets. It may not be summer quite yet, but wildlife in some sections of the country—places in Arizona, Texas, Southern California, and beyond—are already looking at splooting weather.
See some “splooting” squirrels in Texas here:
Splooting season came early this year 🥵
Parts of Texas are facing triple digits.
DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS HEAT!
💧 Hydrate
☀️ Limit outdoor activities
❤️ Look after loved ones
🐾 Check on petsMore from @TDEM –> https://t.co/gjdkyXsDC6 pic.twitter.com/8cORRZmIuK
— Texas Parks & Wildlife (@TPWDnews) May 13, 2025
Squirrels aren’t the only animals that “sploot.” Here’s a post from the NPS showing a bear, a tortoise, and a squirrel splooting in national parks:
Have you observed animals splooting?
Header stock image by DeWaun Simmons/Getty Images