Exotic animals take Western Pa. heat in stride
Muggy summer afternoons send people in droves to air-conditioned rooms, but a sweltering day won’t faze a giraffe.
Friday, July 28, was one of the hottest days of the summer for Butler County. With hot air from the south venturing up to Western Pennsylvania, portions of the county saw the heat index top 100 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Shannon Heffran, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Pittsburgh office.
But for exotic animals housed just outside of Butler County — many of them acclimated to hot climates — Friday was just another summer day.
The heat doesn’t pose an issue to many of the animals cared for in Keystone Safari Park in Mercer County, said owner Adam Guiher.
On the opposite end, the park’s cold climate animals require more attention on hot days, he said.
“Some animals, like reindeer, we worry most about during the heat,” Guiher said.
