STEM Challenge - Keeping Animals Safe in Hot Weather

Living in the Southeastern U.S., keeping animals safein hot weather is something we deal with every summer, especially the end of June through the end of September. If a hurricane happens to threaten or impact our area, we also have to make plans for our pets.

If you own a pet, how do you keep them safe in hot weather and cold weather? How might your pet show you they are too hot or cold?

Now, let’s think about animals at a zoo, wildlife center, or animal rescue center. How do the staff at zoos keep the animals safe during extreme heat? Our daughter worked at a science center, which has a good-sized zoo housing meerkats, red pandas, farm animals, tigers, just to name a few animals. Since we live in the southeastern U.S. where summer temperatures reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and the heat index can climb 6 to 8 degrees higher, she learned much about keeping animals safe in the extreme high temperatures.

We decided to make this is a research project and STEM challenge around this real-world issue.

What to Watch For

The role of veterinary staff at zoos is crucial in ensuring the well-being and health of animals, especially during hot weather.

As temperatures rise, animals may be at risk of heat stress or other heat-related illnesses.

Therefore, the veterinary staff closely watch the animals to ensure their safety and provide necessary care. The staff watches the animals’ behavior when it’s very hot.

They observe how the animals move, eat, and interact with others. Changes in behavior can indicate signs of stress or discomfort caused by the heat.

For example, if an animal is acting lethargic, which means it is moving slowly or isn’t moving as much as it normally does, or refuses to eat, it may be a sign that the animal is struggling to cope with the high temperatures.

In addition to behavior, veterinary staff also monitor the animals’ physical condition. They pay close attention to any signs of dehydration, such as dry or cracked skin, sunken eyes, or excessive panting. Dehydration means they are not getting enough water.

Dehydration can lead to heat stroke or other health problems. By regularly checking the animals’ physical condition, the veterinary staff can help the animals.

Below you can request our STEM Challenge entitled Keeping Animals Safe in Hot Weather. If your child loves animals, here are some animal books to add to this study.

STEM Challenge – Keeping Animals Safe in Hot Weather

Download our free STEM challenge – Keeping Animals Safe in Hot Weather. In this resource, we’ll look at 10 different ways zoos keep animals cool during extreme heat. Then, we’ll work through the challenge and create some designs.

I hold a master’s degree in child development and early education and am working on a post-baccalaureate in biology. I spent 15 years working for a biotechnology company developing IT systems in DNA testing laboratories across the US. I taught K4 in a private school, homeschooled my children, and have taught on the mission field in southern Asia. For 4 years, I served on our state’s FIRST Lego League tournament Board and served as the Judging Director. I own thehomeschoolscientist and also write a regular science column for Homeschooling Today Magazine. You’ll also find my writings on the CTCMath blog. Through this site, I have authored over 50 math and science resources.