Kind Woman Goes Above and Beyond To Help Family of Geese in Boston Heat Wave

In many places around the United States (and the world), this summer has gotten off to a brutal start. Even in areas that typically stay more on the mild side in June have been uncharacteristically warm, seeing temperatures rising to the 90s and even higher all over the country. If you're reading this, you're probably an animal lover like I am, so I know what I'm about to say is not news to you: If you're hot, your pets are hot, and it's very important to make sure we keep them safe during this time.

But what about wild animals who don't have designated human parents who might be struggling in the heat? Once in awhile, a person with a good heart will go out of their way to make sure that they're taken care of, like the woman in this TikTok video did.

Over the weekend, Julie Nashawaty — who is not just a kind person, but also a petsitter — shared a video of what happened when her paths crossed with a family of geese in Boston during the city's heatwave. These poor things were all gathered together in a small patch of shade, trying to get cool, and when Julie realized what was happening, she sprung into action.

A nearby business gave her a paper plate to put water on so the geese would have something to drink, and then, other people began to join in on her efforts.

"When other people saw how thirsty they were, they brought out a whole vase full of cold water," she wrote.

Those geese look so thankful — and so thirsty. Without the help from these sweet humans, how long would they have had to travel to find water like this while dealing with the heat?

How to Help Wild Animals During a Heat Wave

It doesn't seem like this heat is coming to an end anytime soon in the U.S., so if you want to be a hero like this woman was to these geese, there are a few things you should know just in case the opportunity presents itself to you.

As Tree Hugger points out, the biggest way you can help is by providing easily accessible, drinkable water to animals who might be in your area looking for some. This could mean installing a birdbath and making sure it's always full, or filling up small, shallow bowls with water and scattering them around your property (and being sure to refill them regularly).

If you happen to see animals on the ground who are usually in trees, they may be suffering from heat exhaustion or dehydration. You can call a local wildlife specialist for assistance, and if it feels safe for you to do so, you can also wrap the animal up, keeping it in a cardboard box, and providing water until help arrives.

And don't forget to keep yourself hydrated, too. The heat is not messing around!