Are they aestivating?

[thatrebecca]

As we've settled into our hottest, driest time of year here in SoCal, my CDTs' activity has slowed a lot. They're basically active between 8am and 10am, and they look like this in their burrows the rest of the day:

Is this what's meant by the term aestivation?

 

[ascott]

Normal behavior for CDT is to muck about a bit in the earlier part of the day----retreat to their hide or burrow for most of the day---then muck about again before nightfall....perfectly normal

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Apology....to answer your question, no--the behavior that you describe is not estivation/aestivation....

 

[thatrebecca]

OK, thanks, good to know! I miss the little buggers when they're napping all day.

 

[ascott]

Absolutely....my son rolls his eyes at me from time to time when we are out somewhere and I realize it is getting close to their "awakening" (lol) time ....so I am like, hurry--we gotta go before I miss the window of opportunity to offer them goodies....silly I know, but then for winter they are down and brumating--so I really do try to enjoy their brief daily outings when I can ....