When temperatures soar, humans aren't the only ones looking for relief. Animals have their own ways of handling extreme heat — and for some zoo residents, keepers step in with a helping hand.

From giant hoses and frozen treats to some truly bizarre biological tactics, staying cool can look very different across the animal kingdom.

Animals have their own ways to cool off

Elephants don't need much help. They use their trunks to splash water across their bodies, then coat themselves in mud to shield their skin from the sun. Rhinos wallow in mud or water for the same reason, and kangaroos lick their forearms.

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These are all forms of evaporative cooling, using moisture on or around the body to carry excess heat away. For many animals, a quick splash or a coating of mud makes a real difference when temperatures climb.

(MORE: Splooting: the adorable way animals beat the heat)

Popsicles, pools and personal umbrellas

When the heat sets in, some zoo animals get a summer treat we can relate to: popsicles. For a tiger, though, that might mean frozen meat or blood instead of fruit and juice.

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Frozen treats cool animals down while doubling as enrichment, giving them something to lick, chew or work at before they reach the food inside.

And no popsicle is the same for all. Keepers freeze fruits, vegetables or other animal-approved favorites depending on the species — basically giving everyone their own summer treat.

For animals that aren't interested in a frozen snack, zoos have other tricks up their sleeves. Pools, sprinklers and even personal umbrellas can offer relief.

(MORE: Squirrel splooting from heat)

Some cooling tricks get really weird

If you thought frozen treats were unusual, some animals take cooling off to a much stranger level.

Some birds use gular fluttering, rapidly moving muscles and tissues in their throat to help evaporate moisture and release heat. Think of it like a bird's version of turning on its own tiny air conditioner.

And last but certainly not least: storks. Some storks practice urohidrosis, urinating onto their legs so it can evaporate and cool them down. It may not sound glamorous, but it uses the same basic principle as the elephants splashing themselves earlier: evaporation carries heat away.

From mud baths and meat popsicles to fluttering throats and, yes, peeing on their own legs, the animal kingdom has plenty of creative ways to keep its cool.

Faiza Mohammed is a meteorologist intern at weather.com. She studied geography and worked with the Weather Dawgs team at the University of Georgia. She also received her master's in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences from the Georgia Institute of Technology.