No, that flat squirrel in your yard isn’t dead. It’s just splooting. Here’s why
This time of year, you might spot squirrels sprawled out on sidewalks, tree branches, deck railings or other shady spots. They’re typically belly-down and looking flat as a pancake.
No, they’re not caught up on mid-2000’s trends and “planking” for an online audience. But this phenomenon does come with a funny word too.
Squirrels are “splooting,” which is pronounced like “looting,” but with a “sp-” sound (like “sponge”) in front.
The News & Observer talked with Michael Cove, research curator of mammalogy at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh, to learn more about the funny-sounding word and why squirrels in North Carolina are doing it.
Why are squirrels lying down outside?
Squirrels sploot on especially hot days to cool themselves down.
Unlike humans (and a select number of animals, like horses and hippos), squirrels don’t perspire to cool down their bodies. Instead, they exert as little energy as possible and stick themselves in cool places.
When even that’s unmanageable, they resort to splooting.
“It’s like when you have a fever and all you want to do is lie against your bathroom floor,” Cove said.
Squirrels find a cool spot — a patch of concrete (not asphalt) or below-the-surface dirt — and put as much of their bodies against the cool surface as they can. This pulls heat away from their overheating bodies.
“They sometimes look so flat it looks like they partially got run over, or like they’re hurt and dragging their legs behind them. It’s easy to think you’re looking at a dead squirrel,” Cove said.
Squirrel splooting signals our extreme temperatures
If you’re seeing splooting more frequently, or maybe for the first time, it could be a sign of hotter temperatures.
“They can also go in the shade, but the extreme heat could be making squirrels resort to additional methods to cool off,” Cove said.
There isn’t an abundance of large, old trees in developed areas of the Triangle. Squirrels that would typically build their nests (called “dreys”) in these trees need to find other ways to chill.
I see a splooting squirrel. What should I do?
Do nothing.
“Stay far back and give them their space,” Cove said.
If you spook them, you’ll force them to jump up and use more energy, while they’re supposed to be cooling down.
Just let the squirrels lounge.
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This story was originally published July 5, 2023 at 12:59 PM with the headline "No, that flat squirrel in your yard isn’t dead. It’s just splooting. Here’s why."
