Squirrels were caught hunting and eating meat for the first time

When you think of squirrels, you probably imagine cute, fluffy-tailed rodents stuffing their faces with nuts. However, last summer, researchers filmed California ground squirrels furiously digging into rodent flesh.

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UW-Eau Claire) and the University of California (UC), Davis, recorded California wild squirrels hunting, killing and eating small rodents called voles, the first documented evidence of the animal’s persistent presence. Eat meat. Their findings, detailed on December 18 He studies in Journal of EthicsIt reminds us that our understanding of even the most commonly observed animals is far from complete.

“We haven’t seen this behavior before. Squirrels are one of the most familiar animals to people,” said Jennifer Smith of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire at UC Davis. statement. “We see them right outside our windows; We interact with them regularly. However, here is this unprecedented behavior in science that highlights the fact that there is a lot to learn about the natural history of the world around us.

Smith leads a project on the long-term behavioral ecology of ground squirrels in California along with Sonya Wilde of UC Davis, who also contributed to the study. Last summer, during the project’s 12th year, researchers observed ground squirrels actively hunting voles in 42 percent of their interactions with smaller rodents.

“I could hardly believe my eyes,” Wilde said. “Since then, we’ve seen this behavior almost every day. Once we started looking, we saw it everywhere.”

The team, including undergraduate students, documented California ground squirrels hunting, eating, and competing over voles in Briones Regional Park in Contra Costa County in June and July of 2024. Carnivore behavior peaked during the first two weeks of July, and overlapped with Suddenly there is an increase in the vole population.

In fact, squirrels may have started hunting voles because Of the increase, according to the study. Scientists previously asserted that California ground squirrels were omnivores (grain-eaters), but researchers now suggest they may actually be opportunistic omnivores.

“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 changing rapidly due to the presence of humans,” Wild explained.

“Through this collaboration and the data received, we were able to document this widespread behavior that we had no idea was happening,” Smith added. “Digital technology can benefit science, but there is no substitute for going out there and watching behavior because what animals do always surprises us.”

While the team still has many questions — including how widespread this behavior is, how or if it is passed on to new generations, and how it affects ecological processes — the study has upended scientists’ understanding of one of the most well-known animals that live nearby. For humans.