City tells New Yorkers: don’t panic about ‘splooting’ squirrels

Yes, it's a real word. Here's the science (and etymology) behind it

It's baking hot in New York, which can only mean one thing for the city's small mammal population: it's splooting season.

This week, with temperatures reaching 95F (35C), the city's parks department urged residents not to worry about the health of squirrels seen sprawling on the ground, legs extended behind them like a person whose arms gave out halfway through a yoga class. On hot days, squirrels keep cool by splooting (stretching out) on cool surfaces to reduce body heat," the department tweeted.