PHOTO MARIKA VACHON, THE PRESS
Genie, a black bear, wakes up from her nap and pant to let off the heat, just like a dog would. This technique is very common among mammals, but is not sufficient during episodes of extreme heat. To help him get through the day, Kirya Marchand gives Genie some frozen fruit and observes his behaviors.
PHOTO MARIKA VACHON, THE PRESS
The Montreal Ecomuseum Zoo houses animals native to Quebec. If Mme Marchand notices abnormal behavior in one of the residents, he will be taken care of at the animal care center, closed to the public.
PHOTO MARIKA VACHON, THE PRESS
Crows keep their beaks open almost constantly to counter hot weather. “It’s like a human who is sweating,” illustrates Kirya Marchand. Crows also avoid unnecessary travel. Since they move around less, they also eat less, explains Mme Merchant. Thus, the zoo’s animal keepers rehydrate their dried food scraps with a saline solution so that the birds, by consuming them later, hydrate themselves at the same time. In case of heat, rehydrating food is a common practice, explains the coordinator.
PHOTO MARIKA VACHON, THE PRESS
All animals have “their water point, their water bowl for drinking, their swimming pool or their mister,” explains Kirya Marchand. Rex, a wild turkey, may receive special treatment. Birds of this size can benefit from a cold shower if needed. Mme Marchand points out that it is sometimes dangerous to cool animals too quickly. Zoo workers can insert cold rocks into their enclosures so they can cool off at their own pace.
PHOTO MARIKA VACHON, THE PRESS
Otters spend their time hiding under their rocks or swimming to combat the heat. They are among the mammals that cool themselves through their feet. “This is where most mammals, like very hairy mammals, will release heat. Just putting your feet in the water a little helps them cool down,” says Kirya Marchand.
PHOTO MARIKA VACHON, THE PRESS
Turkey Vultures urinate on their feet to lower their body temperature. “It’s a natural behavior, it tells us that his state of health is good,” underlines the animal care coordinator of the Ecomuseum Zoo. Recognizable by her wing injury, Dezzie spreads her wings as best she can to ventilate her body. Injured animals may have more difficulty than others in cooling down, emphasizes the DD Émilie Couture, veterinarian specializing in zoological medicine at the Quebec Center for Wild Animal Health.