This image shows a fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) lying flat on a concrete ledge next to BNB Hall on Truman State University’s arboreal campus. Fox squirrels are typically found in temperate zones with deciduous forests, like Missouri. This species spends most of their time on the ground looking for food, like acorns and walnuts; the diverse array of trees provides a variety of food sources for fox squirrels.

When this photo of the fox squirrel was taken at 12:17 PM on September 19, 2019, the local weather was approximately 87 degrees Fahrenheit. Although the September equinox was quickly approaching, the temperature continued to reflect the summer season. As a response to the heat, this fox squirrel is found lying on a surface shaded by the buildings near it. The shaded area makes the surface of the ledge cooler than the warm air around campus. The fox squirrel cools itself off by lying flat on this shaded surface. By flattening out its body, the squirrel’s superficial blood vessels are in close contact with the shaded, cool surface; the close contact of the blood vessels to the cool surface cools down the blood flowing through the squirrel's body.

References:

fox squirrel - Sciurus niger - NatureWorks. Retrieved from nhpbs.org/natureworks/easternfoxsquirrel.htm

Dempsey, C. (2019, April 25). Why Do Squirrels Lie Flat? Retrieved from www.geographyrealm.com/squirrels-lie-flat/

Photograph by Miranda Harple

Photograph by Miranda Harple