Squirrels, with their cute appearance, could lead a much wilder life than we imagine. A recent study published in the Journal of Ethology revealed that some of these little animals, far from just being nut gatherers, are active and voracious hunters that attack and devour small rodents.
This finding, documented for the first time, highlights a carnivorous behavior much more common than previously believed in these seemingly harmless creatures.
Jennifer E. Smith, assistant professor of biology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and lead author of the study, expressed her astonishment at this discovery: “It was shocking. We had never seen this behavior before. Squirrels are very familiar animals; we see them daily, but there is still much to learn about the natural history of the world around us.”
The study, conducted in Briones Regional Park, California, observed ground squirrels during the boreal summer in the twelfth year of a long-term research project. Between June and July, researchers recorded 74 interactions between California ground squirrels and mice, of which 42% were cases of active hunting.
Squirrels, opportunistic hunters
Sonja Wild, co-author of the study and postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Davis, shared her initial skepticism when students reported witnessing this behavior: “I could hardly believe what I was seeing. But as we delved into our observation, we discovered it was happening everywhere.”
Although it was known that up to 30 squirrel species occasionally consume meat, it was not clear if this behavior was solely due to scavenging or involved active hunting. This study confirms that squirrels not only feed on dead animals but also regularly hunt, especially during specific periods.
The carnivorous behavior intensified in the first weeks of July, coinciding with an increase in the vole population, a rodent similar to mice.
What are the main characteristics of these animals?
Squirrels are omnivorous, but some species can behave in a carnivorous manner. Their main diet consists of seeds, nuts, and vegetables, but they can also eat small animals and bird eggs. A study revealed that these squirrels changed their behavior due to the increase in voles in the area.
Some characteristics of squirrels are:
- They are skillful animals that can stand in a bipedal position to cling to trees or collect food.
- Their front paws are like hands, they use them to dig on the ground or manipulate objects.
- The hair on their tail is all guard hair, not underfur.
- When they stand upright, with the tail folded over their back, they can prevent predators from seeing their shape.
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