"Heat stress in deer occurs when the temperature or temperature-humidity indices (a combination of ambient temperature and relative humidity) go above the upper critical temperature. White-tailed deer reduce movement, spend more time lying, seek cooler locations, look for shelter from solar radiation, and pant to dissipate heat during heat stress. As panting increases, there is an increased risk of rumen acidosis due to a decrease in rumen buffering capacity through increased exhalation of CO2 and loss of saliva by drooling."

"Insects can also take a toll on whitetails during the summer. Mosquitoes, flies, gnats, ticks and others can cause more stress on a deer than it might face in the winter months. Relief can be found – if only for a short time – with a breeze, a cool night, or by wading into a pond or stream."

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Meanwhile, it's now 85 degrees inside our house without air-conditioning. For more of that story: https://pbase.com/britestar/image/172971961 & https://pbase.com/britestar/image/172980079

Although it's very stuffy indoors, it is far too brutally hot & humid to step outside (to get fresh air) for more than a couple of minutes; especially when you can't come back indoors to air-conditioning to cool off. I have a lot of sympathy for the wildlife that must completely depend on the whims of Mother Nature. Although they seem more resilient than humans, extremes in heat and cold can kill wildlife.

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We're currently experiencing a record setting heat wave. Tomorrow is supposed to be even hotter than today. This is not a good time to live in a Solar home that is designed to start holding in the heat in the Fall when the weather is supposed to be cooling down. But it is what it is. So far, my husband doesn't seem to be bothered, but I'm really suffering from the heat. Like the deer above (headed to the buffet that the neighbor puts out), I'm now moving in super slow motion. However, unlike the deer, my appetite is gone. It's just too hot (indoors or out) for me to think of eating or doing most anything.

Sooner or later, this heat wave will eventually break. In a world - where not a lot seems normal in recent years - that's the normal way of things. It won't stay 100°F (and above) forever. Nor 85° as an outdoors, nighttime low. Not yet anyhow. Nevertheless, with Global Warming, who knows what the future will bring?

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