The hot, humid temperatures leave us sweaty and yearning for a refreshing drink or soak anywhere we can find one. It seems we are not alone in that regard since black bears like to have a refreshing dip too when facing the high California heat.
Typically, California is home to pleasant weather, including moderate temperatures, warmer winters, and cooler summers in the coastal areas. But all of this changes when you drive an hour or two inland.
This is because summer rain is extremely rare in all major Californian cities, including the inland ones. Not only is it scarce to find rain during the summer, but every summer day in California is ‘blue dome sky’ sunny.
California also has several coastal mountains and hills that block or deflect sea breezes from reaching inland. Combine this with the fact that there’s not much shade since the drought-stricken cities are reluctant to plant abundant vegetation.
Although not all parts of California experience extreme heat, parts of Central and Southern California can get very hot. This is a result of two primary conditions:
- Their low latitude location, which brings them closer to the equator
- A large portion of the state is a dry desert or has a desert-like condition [1]
These situations are especially pronounced in Southern California, which is closer to the sun during the summer solstice. This results in the summer months having longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures.
Black bears have to keep cool too
A family of bears knew just how to fight the record-high temperatures in Southern California. Rare footage shows the moment a mama bear and her five cubs decided to cool off by taking a refreshing dip in a Monrovian family’s pool and playing on the swing set.
The cubs seem so excited to swim in the cool water to escape the summer heat. The bears’ pool party moment was captured on camera by Tim Basso’s wife, who was quite thrilled at the unexpected sight in their backyard. [3]
In the background, she can be heard saying, “It’s a fun backyard,” but her daughter, Sophie, was not excited about the baby cubs having a go at her floaty.
“We’re going to buy a new pool?” She asked her mom, to which she replied: “Not until next year.”
Sophie cried after hearing this and can be heard saying, “Hey baby bear, leave the floaty alone!”
Towards the end of the video, their mother can be heard calling her husband, Tim Basso, to call animal control. A few days later, he updated his video comment, adding: “Mom and five cubs have been seen in the neighborhood, but not in our yard. Thanks for watching and keeping it civil.”
Keeping cool during the heatwave
Luckily, Californians don’t fall short of creative ways to keep fresh during the summer heat. From DIY air conditioning to frozen undergarments, there’s no shortage of ideas to keep manageable temperatures during a heatwave.
There are few visible signs, aside from feeling sweaty, that show the heat is affecting you, and it’s essential to be aware of them. Common symptoms of extreme weather include thirst, nausea, chills, headaches, dizziness, and faintness. [2]
Here are some tips to help you stay cool all summer long:
- Drink plenty of water even if you don’t feel thirsty
- Avoid sweetened drinks, caffeine, and alcohol
- Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink water or electrolyte-filled replacements
- Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing to reflect heat
- Avoid drinking extremely cold water since it can cause cramps
- Eat easy-to-digest foods like fruit or salads
- Keep your freezer well-stocked to reduce energy usage
- Eliminate outdoor physically intensive activities, or reschedule them to the coldest time of the day
- Spend time in air conditioning or use electric fans
Read More: Gorgeous Wild Cat Turns Heads As She Casually Struts Down Street
Reference:
- Atlas of the Biodiversity of California (PDF).
- “A Dangerous Heat Wave Will Hit Parts of the U.S. This Weekend—Here’s How to Stay Cool.” Prevention. Korin Miller. July 17, 201p
