Dog Days

We are deep in the "dog days of summer," the name given to the most sultry period of summer, traditionally considered from early July to mid-August. Our dog Shaggy is glad we decided to pitch our tent in the air-conditioned living room instead of outdoors. Especially since his summer cut has already grown out and he needs to get to the groomer stat. How are other animals handling the heat? Let's take a look…
Giraffe Knows Heat Rises

We all know heat rises, and so does this giraffe. Perhaps she figures she can cool off if she keeps her neck down. Or maybe the heat has drained her strength and she just can't even hold it up any more. It is a LONG one! At least she's found a shady spot, though I doubt that big rock is providing any cool relief in the 100+ degree temperatures.
Pride of Lazy Lions

This lion knows not to exert himself too much in the heat. He is, after all, the king of the jungle. And he wants you to know it with his tremendous roar. As long as he doesn't have to get up. Lying in the dirt in the shade is all he can manage to do right now.
No Break for Bonobo Mama

This bonobo mom has a lot going on. She's trying to eat. Care for her baby. And if only she could get that blanket down, maybe she could have some shade. You can just feel her frustration. It's all over her face. Man, can I relate!
Take a Nap

One of the best ways to beat the heat is to sleep through it and be awake during the cooler hours of the early morning and evening. Or nighttime. This Colobus monkey just cannot with the heat and has decided taking a nap is the way to go. It's simply too hot to do anything else.
Snuggle With Your Sweetie

Napping in the sun would not be my preferred way of beating the heat. But if you're going to do it, why not snuggle with your sweetie? These giant otters decided to take a break from swimming and cuddle up to sleep off the hottest part of the day together. They must not give off as much body heat as my husband.
No Sun for Mama Gorilla and Baby

This gorilla mother has had her breakfast, nursed her infant, and has decided it is time to relax in the shade. She's kicking back in a hammock, but her expression says she is not entirely relaxed. I mean; we all know it's not a good idea to wear black in the sun and heat. And fur? Forget about it!
Dark Shade, Cold Stone, Cool Glass

This tiger knows to relax and sleep during the heat of the day. He's in the shade, on cool stone, and up against glass that is air-conditioned from the other side. He's figured out the best way to sleep during the heat of the day. Or has he?
Cold Spritz of Water

Here's a tiger that manages to one up the previous fellow. He may not be in the shade, but he is in water. Nice, cool water running over his hot fur. Tigers are one of only a few big cat species that like water. And in this exhibit, they spend a good part of the summer days in it.
Cool Bath, Even For a Cat

Domestic cats generally do not like water. But our cat Amber is seriously considering taking a dip in the bathtub right about now. Our daughter stays in there so long the water gets cold. And a cool dip on a hot day can be quite appealing.
Wading to Cool Off

It was so unusual for this African bongo to wade into the duckweed-covered pond in its enclosure zoo staff members came running over yelling, "Get a picture!" So I did (and it ended up being selected a favorite by National Geographic editors). But it doesn't seem to understand what the fuss was all about; it just wanted to cool off.
Bad Hair Day

With all this talk of moisture, you know what's coming. The heat and humidity of summer take a toll on many a hairdo. This bird is definitely not having a good feather day. And does not look too happy about it. I'm glad I was shooting with a zoom lens. Would not want to get too close to this grumpy bird!
Fed Up

This Patagonian sea lion has something to say about the heat. Sure, she spends most of her time in water, but she comes from a cooler climate. In fact, she was only visiting Florida briefly. But she discovered we are hot a good part of the year here, not only in summer.
Air-Conditioning FTW!

Our cat Evelyn agrees with the sea lion. Florida heat stinks! Of course, she can spend her days in our air-conditioned house. She doesn't have to deal with the heat, so what is she complaining about? Why I am even asking that? She's a cat.
Sink or Swim

Our third cat, Noodles, has started sleeping in the sink of the master bathroom. I guess it is nice and cool in there. And the light is out most of the time in the room, which means less heat. But since cats can sleep 18 hours a day or more, it's kind of becoming a problem for the humans in our house.
Heat and Humidity: Bring It

About the only animal not bothered by the heat is our daughter's fire-bellied toad. And the goldfish. Both live indoors in water. They've found the best way to beat the heat – don't go out in it. And if you're keeping count, that's six pets. There are twice as many animals in our home as there are humans. Which is a story for another day…
Park It

Here is my little animal cooling off at the splash park after a long, HOT week of zoo camp. What? We are mammals, after all. And when you live in Florida, summer is all about water. Splash parks. Pools. The ocean. We use it all to try to beat the heat. How do you?