The Nut Lady
06-14-2022, 11:57 PM
Hi all. Reaching out for any advise on how to support our backyard friends when it's really hot and humid. Today and tomorrow we have 110 heat index and I worry about our momma squirrel, "lefty" and her juveniles (they have only been out and about for 3 weeks). These friends spent a large amount of time in a large maple today, where they were panting heavily, mouths hanging open, and not looking good. The kids even leaned towards my outstretched arm when I was putting avocado on the tree, as if they were wanting something from me, yet they didn't want the avocado when they normally would eat it up (but, mind you, these juveniles have never let me get this close to them and today it looked like they would have jumped on my arm if I would have let them). We have multiple water dishes out, and I've been periodically spraying down the porch where the eat with the hose to cool it off (it's a covered porch with bushes right in front, so they have a protected/shaded space). I put out their regular snacks throughout the day today, instead of just in the evening, when they normally get their snacks (and I froze the grapes and blueberries today). I put out ice cubes on the porch but they avoid them. They don't spend time just chilling on the porch and under the bushes as I was hoping and instead pancake on the tree branches. I'm guessing the trees where cooler than the porch today, despite my hosing it off. Not much I can do in the tress to help them other than provide water and food at the base. They definitely seemed less food motivated, which I get, as at least for me when it's so hot, I eat less. They just looked miserable and the greys even let the couple of foxers come around and share the big maple tree (which never happens). Any advise is appreciated, as I"m at a loss of how to help them and I worry about them since we are having another bad one tomorrow (excessive heat warning, day two).