With their bushy tails and bulging cheeks, squirrels are often seen as cute animals.
But a new study has painted the rodents in a whole new light.
Scientists have captured shocking footage of California ground squirrels hunting, killing and then eating voles.
Until now, squirrels have been considered ‘granivorous’ animals (animals that feed on grain), but the new images suggest that squirrels are evolving to become carnivorous.
“This was shocking,” said Dr. Jennifer E. Smith, an associate professor of biology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, who led the study.
‘We had never seen this behavior before. Squirrels are one of the most familiar animals to people.
“We see them right outside our windows; we are in regular contact with them.
“Yet here is this behavior never before seen in science, shedding light on the fact that there is so much more to learn about the natural history of the world around us.”
With their bushy tails and bulging cheeks, squirrels are often seen as cute animals. But a new study has painted the rodents in a whole new light
Scientists have captured shocking footage of California ground squirrels hunting, killing and then eating voles
Until now, squirrels were considered ‘granivorous’ animals (animals that feed on grain), but the new images suggest that squirrels are evolving to become carnivorous
The scientists were observing the squirrels at Briones Regional Park in Contra Costa County when they noticed the unusual behavior.
Between June 10 and July 30, they were amazed to see California ground squirrels of all ages and sexes hunting, eating and competing for voles.
Of the 74 observed interactions with voles, almost half (42%) involved the active hunting of these small rodents by ground squirrels.
Their carnivorous feeding habits peaked during the first two weeks of July, which was accompanied by an explosion of voles in the park.
According to the researchers, this indicates that their hunting behavior was accompanied by a temporary increase in prey availability.
Sonja Wild, an author of the study, said: ‘The fact that California ground squirrels are behaviorally flexible and can respond to changes in food availability may help them persist in environments that are rapidly changing due to the presence of humans. ‘
Although the researchers have been studying squirrels for years, even they were surprised by the findings.
Dr. Wild added: “I could hardly believe my eyes.
The scientists were observing the squirrels at Briones Regional Park in Contra Costa County when they noticed the unusual behavior
Between June 10 and July 30, they were amazed to see California ground squirrels of all ages and sexes hunting, eating and competing for voles.
Of the 74 observed interactions with voles, almost half (42 percent) involved active hunting of these small rodents by ground squirrels
‘We saw that behavior almost every day.
“Once we started looking, we saw it everywhere.”
Several questions about the new eating behavior remain unanswered.
This includes how widespread the behavior is among squirrels, how and whether it is passed from parent to pup, and how it affects ecological processes.
However, the team plans to return to the park next summer to see if there has been a long-term impact on the field mice or the squirrels themselves.