About Me
- Camera Trap Codger
- Native Californian, biologist, wildlife conservation consultant, retired Smithsonian scientist, father of two daughters, grandfather of four. INTJ. Believes nature is infinitely more interesting than shopping malls. Born 100 years too late.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Creature Comfort
Bears take a beating in hot weather.
They huff and puff and seek water where they can cool off.
They wallow and tank up at any time of day or night, but during really hot weather they may visit the same pool several times a day.
"Shedding thermal energy" is biological techno-jargon for the various ways animals cool off.
I learned that from a "physiological ecologist".
It's hard to shed thermal energy if you are big and fat like a bear, because of the large surface-to-volume ratio.
Anyway, I've learned a few things from viewing hundreds of 30 second video clips of bears visiting water holes here in Butte County.
You'll notice that I've also moved the camera closer to center stage.
This video introduces "Tank", and one of these days I'll post a video of the full cast of Bruins here.
Meanwhile, enjoy.
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4 comments:
That spot never fails to produce!
I wonder what the threat of disease transmission is like at wallow sites like this? So many critters visiting repeatedly!
That's a great video, and funny too.
I saw something like this in my own stills and now your video —— bears sticking their butts in washbowl-size pools. Hardly seems worth it, but it must be so to them.
Hilarious!
-alicia
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