France in Focus

Poor things in this heat. Will they actually get into the water ?

The bravest ones sometimes wade into the water, just up to their ankles or knees, to cool off a bit. Or to enjoy a cool sip of water without having to pay for it. No waiter in sight, by the way – it’s a bit too hot in long black trousers and a white long-sleeved shirt.

They will get into the water if you put fluorscein dye in the water. It turns the water fluorescent green and it seems the cows think it is grass.

The dye was traditionally used in water tracing. Put it into an upland stream where it disappears into a cave and then see where it comes out. Done properly, you need detectors in the river and nothing is visible in visible light: but it is all guesswork on how much your dyed stream is going to get diluted underground. On more than one occasion, valley rivers have turned bright green, and if cows have access, they will go for a swim. Farmers tend to be unhappy about that.

Very interesting. Thank you for that info. I feel terrible for the cows in my area. It is hot as hell and I know they don't cope well with this.