San Carlos Street Animals Behavior by Season

Season by season: how street animals behave in San Carlos

1. “Cool” & busy season – roughly November–March

Weather: Comfortable days, cooler nights, little rain. Lots of people in town.

Typical behavior:

• More daytime activity
  • Dogs and cats are happy to move around in daylight because pavement and air temps are tolerable.
• Sun in the morning, shade in the afternoon
  • You’ll see them sunbathing early, then shifting to shade later in the day.
• Hanging near restaurants / marinas
  • More people = more food scraps. Animals learn restaurant schedules and fishing-cleaning spots.
• Group sleeping at night
  • Especially in Dec–Jan when it’s coolest, you’ll see dogs and cats pile together in sheltered corners, under boats, in doorways.

Health/behavior notes:

• Thin, short-haired, very young or very old animals feel the night chill more and may shiver or seek very tight spaces (under cars, in engine compartments, under stairs).
• Viral diseases (like respiratory infections in cats, parvo/distemper in dogs) can spread faster when animals cuddle close in shelters.

2. Warming up – April–June (pre-monsoon heat)

Weather: Rapid warm-up into hot, dry conditions. By May–June it’s frequently very hot inland and still quite warm on the coast.

Typical behavior:

• Shifting to dawn, dusk, and night
  • Dogs and cats start avoiding midday sun; you’ll see them moving more from 5–9 a.m. and after sunset.
• Shorter roaming distances
  • Heat makes long wandering expensive in energy; animals stick closer to known food/water points.
• Competing for shade
  • More time under cars, in drainages, up against cool north-facing walls, or under boats.

Health/behavior notes:

• Heat stress risk starts to appear—heavy panting, tongues out, seeking any shade.
• Ticks and fleas become more active as temps rise; you’ll see more scratching and thinning hair.

3. Hot, humid & rainy – July–September (monsoon)

Weather: Very hot + high humidity + short storms. Hottest average temps of the year around August, with most rain July–Sept.

Typical behavior:

• Mostly crepuscular/nocturnal
  • Midday, many animals “disappear” into deep shade or under structures.
  • Nighttime you suddenly see lots of movement—crossing roads, visiting garbage areas, seeking water.
• Storm response
  • When thunder and lightning hit, many dogs panic: running, hiding, or bolting into traffic.
  • During heavy rain they may move to higher, drier ground—stairs, porches, raised sidewalks.
• Water & puddles
  • Animals drink from puddles, which may be contaminated (oil, chemicals, sewage).

Health/behavior notes:

• Fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes are at their peak now in this warm, humid environment.
• Higher risk of:
  • Skin issues (moist dermatitis, fungal infections) on constantly damp skin.
  • Parasite-borne disease (varies by region, but ticks and mosquitoes are a big concern).
• Dogs in heat and roaming males can be especially reckless crossing flooded streets or darting during storms.

4. Transition back to “pleasant” – October

Weather: Still warm, but humidity drops and evenings feel better. Rain decreases sharply.

Typical behavior:

• Street animals extend their daytime window again as heat becomes less brutal.
• You may see more visible puppies and kittens from matings that happened late summer.
• They start hanging out more visibly near returning snowbirds and reopened seasonal restaurants.

Breeding patterns you’re likely seeing there

Exact timing varies, but in warm places like San Carlos:

• Dogs
  • Many street females cycle 1–2 times a year; you often see surges of roaming males and fights late winter/early spring and again late summer.
  • This means puppy waves often show up:
    • Late spring/early summer
    • Early fall
• Cats
  • Cats can cycle almost year-round here, but you’ll often see peaks in spring and fall when conditions are comfortable and food is reasonable.
  • More yowling, fighting, and spraying at night around these times.

For a group like SBPA, that means timing spay/neuter pushes before these peaks has a huge impact.

Practical “by season” care plan for San Carlos street animals

Cool/busy season (Nov–Mar)

• Water & food stations near colonies, but away from traffic.
• Simple wind-protected sleeping spots:
  • Boxes or crates with an opening turned out of the wind.
• Watch for:
  • Coughing, nasal discharge, eye infections (especially in cats).
  • Shivering, older animals moving stiffly.

Heat & pre-monsoon (Apr–Jun)

• Put water in shaded spots, not in full sun where it heats up.
• Feed early morning or after sunset.
• Avoid attracting animals to hot asphalt parking lots at midday.
• Watch for:
  • Over-panting, wobbling, or collapse = heat emergency.
  • Tick/flea loads and hair loss.

Hot, humid & rainy (Jul–Sept)

• Keep food on raised, dry areas so it doesn’t sit in muddy water.
• Offer at least one dry shelter for each small group: under a roof, inside a box, or under stairs.
• Be extra careful driving in storms—panicked dogs may dart into the road.
• Watch for:
  • Skin problems (red, raw, hairless patches).
  • Weight loss from parasites and infection.

Transition & prep (Oct)

• Great month to:
  • Trap–neuter–return (TNR) / spay–neuter campaigns ahead of winter and snowbird season. SBPA offers free Spay & Neuter Clinics throughout the year.
  • Vaccinate and deworm when animals are not stressed by extreme heat or storms.

SBPA San Carlos is dedicated to help control street animal population through spay & neuter clinics and educational outreach. SBPA relies on donations to fund their mission so please consider helping with a donation or volunteer your time to help.