!!!! Put Out Water For The Wild Animals During Heat Wave!!!!
 

I just saw a little squirrel come up close to the house and stretch himself out lengthwise on his tummy in my St. Augustine grass that had just been soaked with water. He lay there so long and so still it scared me to death - I thought he was dead. Finally, he moved and got into another wet patch of grass and I realized he was soaking up what cool wetness he could. I immediately went out and turned on the hose a bit to leave running and am putting bowls of water out front and back for the poor little creatures and maybe even a stray dog or cat, who need some hydration for the duration of this awful heatwave. I never even thought that those little things are having to do what they can to get water and cool down and must be hopeless in this heat. Where I live we cannot water until after 6 p.m. so animals and birds have to go all day without any water unless they have some secret source. So everybody please be kind to the little things out there with no one to watch out for them. I sure hope my little squirrel friend comes back for a long drink of water and waterhose bath!

That is so thoughtful of you. My husband leaves a big bucket of water outside all year for the animals. He can be so thoughtful sometimes.

It shames me that I never even thought about all those little thirsty things until I saw my little squirrel friend trying so hard to cool himself. I feel less than human! It has been so hot for so long and I gave no one thought to the strays, squirrels, birds. At least from now on, if they stop here, they can get well hydrated and cooled down. I keep the St. Augustine well-watered but now the little guys will have some real water.

Tibbe is very blessed to have your for his mommy.

Oh this post is great! I feed the squirrels but didn't think about water. I wonder if getting a bird bath would be a good idea for them?

I just have to share what was in my yard the other day. Our pond has dried down to nothing. Maybe 2 to 3 feet deep. But it was enough to give this pretty deer a drink. Here she is:

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And look what showed up at my pond just now! She has a baby!!! :D

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AWWWW how sweet, unfortunately we had 3 deer die jumping over our wrought iron fence, 2 were suffering so the police had to come shoot them. The police officer had tears in his eyes. We live on 5 acres and have 20 acres of land ( mostly flood plain) with a creek beside us, so we have a lot of wildlife. Didn't like the coyote beside my garage.

Awwwwwwwwwww.......... We have a TON of Squirrels.... Pigeons.... and Rats, here in the City!! And actually 2 opposum right around the corner.

Rats get thirsty too.:D

You need to get a picture of mr. squirrel! ;)

Incredible picture! What a noble animal! Hope he/she had a lovely long drink of water and got cool. What a great shot. I would love to look out on my property and see that gorgeous creature any day. Wow!

My husband use to leave for work about 4 in the morning and there would always be about 5-6 deer in our yard, then they had to build a subdivision behind us and mess it up. We still see a lot of deer droppings, dogs love that, (NOT) but very few deer. We have several fruit trees so we let them eat whatever they want.

Thanks! I love most of the animals we see here. We have woods behind us and to the left of us. On the right there is an empty property before you see the next house. With the pond here we see all kinds. Some I like (deer) and some I don't (snakes). Lol. I actually took that picture from the inside of my house. My camera has an awesome zoom! :D

I will try to get it if he comes back. I was so astounded to see him doing that and Tibbe was going nuts at the den window barking his face off and then, when Squirrely stayed there so still for so long I just about panicked, thinking I was sitting there on my unthinking duff watching a fellow creature die because I had not thought of water for him. I sat there stunned and not breathing until the little thing finally raised his little head up. My next act was to get outside and get water for him and have been watching since to see if he will come back but there isn't a creature of any kind in sight now. They must all be somewhere else trying not to move to stay cool. Hopefully, tomorrow morning he will be back and enjoy a nice bath in the big bowl of water which I will make sure stays filled to the brim if I do nothing else this summer. Have a larger bowl in the front yard by the water faucet for drop-by visitors who need some water. If Squirrel Boy does come back and gets close enough, I will get a shot and try to post it. I would love to see him swan diving into the bowl and floating around on his back! ha!

Just learned today my digital picture Card Reader does not talk to my new OS and am waiting an email answer from the mfg. to tell me what I can do to make it work with my new computer so I can get images downloaded into it. If can't, need to get a new Reader fast.

Wow, you ladies and your deer right on your property - awesome! What a privilege to share a close proximity with those lovely things.

I bet he will love you for life! :D Right now to them water is like finding a gold mine. I just went out side and put out 3 bowls of water. Thanks for reminding us to do this! Even though we have the pond I thought the cool water might be good as I am sure the pond water is a little warm. It was 115 degrees here today. I am thinking the water is not very cold.

It is nice, I can go outside in my night gown, as long as I don't scare the wildlife. I could not live in a subdivision with neighbors.

Well, I wouldn't have even thought of it except for a furry little creature stretching his tummy and throat out in my St. Augustine grass, soaking up what cool and moisture he could. He asked so elequently for some help it just hurt that I hadn't even thought of those out there with no ready water source. Think what poor stray dogs and cats are faced with, too! We hardly ever see a stray here but they are out there everywhere in all these hot states. I hope people all over will set water out front daily just in case some little body needs it.

You are so right. We do forget about them during the hot weather and during the cold weather. There are so many strays. :( We don't have them here either but I think that is because of all the wildlife. So good of Mr. Squirrel to take the time to put a little reminder in your mind. ;)

He hit me straight in my conscience!

Which led you to remind us! It all worked out! :D

Ha, you are going to turn into snow white soon with all the animals coming to your house. :)

It's been hot here, but definitely not as hot as other areas of the country. I always have a bowl of water on my front porch for the stray dogs. I just don't know what I'm going to do when we finish putting up the front fence. I will have to find a different place for the water bowl!

We have a man made stream and pond in our back yard that our wild animals can drink out of

That's a great reminder. A few years ago I came home and found bottle tops filled with water around the front and back of the house. I asked my DH and he said it was for the chipmunks that live under our stoop. He loves chipmunks. I am going to put some water out today.

It's 104 right now and have been watching for my little squirrel today but heretofore he's stayed hidden away, in the shade hopefully. Yesterday when I saw him it was later than this so maybe he's okay. But if he does come, water awaits him and other visitors.

That's so sweet of everyone to think of the other wildlife animals. I wish we would more wild animals than just birds. Hawaii unfortunately don't have much natural land available. Developers only think of buildings and houses to make a quick buck. Once in a great while when we're up in the mountains I get to see a wild pig or two. Or a jackson chameleon. LOL

I am going to put water out for the Rats, as soon as I get home!! ;)

RATATOUILLE!!

Thanks for the reminder...all we see where we live are squirels if we are lucky. Definitely going to put water out for them. I am guessing our pool is not a great source of drinking water.

Rats get thirsty and hot too.