By LINDA DWYER
Article originally posted in The Sun 7/9/23 and has been reformatted.
Wild turkeys in Sun City gather for a drink out of a bird bath.
Photograph provided by Barbara Luna.
Dangerous heat has already been the focus this summer in Central Texas. While some residents plan to stay indoors to beat the weather until the fall, wildlife doesn’t have that option.
Sun City Nature Club recently hosted an event titled “The Impact of Summer on Wildlife.” The informative presentation was given by Derrick Wolter, biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The department oversees and protects wildlife and their habitats. Wildlife biologists
design and conduct studies on wildlife resources and manage wildlife in a specified region.
Mr. Wolter said summer can be a stressful season for native wildlife.
Some animals are better equipped to withstand extreme temperatures. The large ears of Jack rabbits release heat quickly. Warm climate mammals, like gazelles, are streamlined and during summer months slim down more to expel heat.
Some animals change behavior, he said. Reptiles seek shelter under rocks and in burrows. Turtles and fish seek cooler, deeper waters. Feral hogs dip into mud. Bats go out later at night and deer get out earlier in the morning.
Mammals shed hair and birds molt feathers. Animals that don’t sweat get rid of excess heat by panting. Canadian geese migrate to cooler regions.
Squirrels lay flat to make contact with a cooler surface. Splooting is the common name for this behavior. Mr. Wolter showed photos of this technique to beat the heat. It’s comparable to dogs sprawling out on a cool tile floor, he said.
Mr. Wolter shared ways to help wildlife during extreme temperatures. Water is essential but can be hard to find in the wild during droughts. Keep fresh water in bird baths and set a shallow dish of water on the ground to provide access for other small animals. Replace water often to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds.
Purposeful landscaping can also help. Native fruit, berry and nut-bearing trees, and bushes provide moisture-rich food. Mr. Wolter suggested native agarita and Texas persimmon as examples. Mexican plum is another good option.
Shade trees and longer grass can keep the soil cooler for insects and burrowing animals. Save cavities in trees so animals can rest there during the day.
Resident Nancy Wagoner started Living with Wildlife, a subgroup of the Nature Club. Ms. Wagoner moved to Sun City about 10 years ago.
“I found out about the deer trapping and went to board meetings about the deer,” she said. “I wondered how I could make it better for local wildlife. That motivated me to start this group.”
She quickly expanded her thinking beyond deer and made an effort to include animals that are under-appreciated.
“There are so many creatures that need us,” Ms. Wagoner said. “Everyone loves butterflies, but there are animals we are afraid of that also have a place. Snake wranglers have done an excellent job teaching us that snakes aren’t bad.”
Last month, she invited Robert C. Dowler from San Angelo to speak about skunks. Georgetown’s wildlife rehabilitation center, All Things Wild, attended and brought a live skunk ambassador.
Jason Hardin, Wild Turkey Program coordinator at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, will talk turkey next month. Mr. Hardin is successfully bringing wild turkeys back to East Texas. The frisky fowls have been a hot topic in Sun City due to a few rogue birds that have wreaked havoc on residents.
Barbara Luna moved into Sun City because of the wildlife.
“I have always been an active outdoor enthusiast,” she said. “As I age, wildlife photography has become the catalyst to stay outdoors and to share my enjoyment, some friends would say obsession, with wildlife.
“Wildlife is smarter with this heatwave. You see more deer and turkeys laying in the shade during the day. They usually do not leave till early evening. Blue herons open up their wings on hot days, allowing air to circulate across their bodies and sweep away the excess heat.”
Ms. Wagoner’s motivation to bring in experts continues. She is grateful for local green spaces and ponds in Sun City, but she said she worries about the animals that are left with nowhere to go as
urbanization continues in Central Texas.
“As our communities grow and we encroach on animal habitats we can be a bit more conscious of helping them, especially in this heat,” she said.
A squirrel sploots to cool down from the heat.
Photograph provided by Barbara Luna.
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