California squirrels evolving in 'shocking' way as scientists investigate key behavioral shift

[240B]

California squirrels evolving in 'shocking' way as scientists investigate key behavioral shift

Daily Mail
By ELLYN LAPOINTE
19 December 2024

Scientists have found California ground squirrels are evolving in a 'shocking' way - the animals have developed a taste for flesh.

A video captured dozens of them hunting, attacking and feasting on rodents for the first time ever.

The bizarre behavior was seen for two weeks at Briones Regional Park in Contra Costa County as cameras recorded squirrels pouncing on their prey, ripping them apart and consuming the lifeless animal.

On one occasion, scientists watched in horror as a squirrel 'vigorously' shook its prey while holding it in its mouth.

The observations have suggested that these nut foraging creatures are evolving into carnivorous predators.

'This was shocking,' said Dr Jennifer E. Smith, an associate professor of biology at 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 interact with them regularly.

'Yet here's this never-before-encountered-in-science behavior that sheds light on the fact that there's so much more to learn about the natural history of the world around us.'

(more)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14210429/california-squirrels-hunting-evolution-scientists-behavior-research.html

[240B]

Who foresaw flesh eating squirrels in 2024?

[catfish1957]

Who foresaw flesh eating squirrels in 2024?

I didn't realize until last year when I went to CA, that there they actually go into burrows instead of trees.

[Lando Lincoln]

Who foresaw flesh eating squirrels in 2024?

Not on my bingo card.

[240B]

I didn't realize until last year when I went to CA, that there they actually go into burrows instead of trees.

There are many examples of animals which are formally classified as herbivores eating meat under certain circumstances. For example, apes will catch and eat meat occasionally. Cows and deer have been documented eating meat.

Not so much "evolution" as it is some biological imperative driving this behavior, such as a need for protein or a lack of availability of other food sources.

Animals do whatever their bodies tell them is necessary. Herbivores will eat meat if it is needed in the same way that carnivores eat plant material when the urge pops up.

[bigheadfred]

I didn't realize until last year when I went to CA, that there they actually go into burrows instead of trees.

There is a big problem when ground squirrels infest pasture lands. Not so much damage from the squirrels themselves, but from the livestock leg-breaking holes left when badgers dig the squirrels out.

[Free Vulcan]

That sounds like one helluva cult classic B movie begging to be made and sent straight to Netflix.

[DefiantMassRINO]

Just when they eradicated the murder hornets ...

Maybe they are rats with fuzzy tails, chipmunks with roid rage, vampires, or drug addicted.  Has anyone tested them for rabies or Mad Squirrel Disease?

Years ago, they found some crack-addicted squirrels in Central Park, New York - they got addicated by foraging discarded crack vials.

Yet, another thing to blame Global Climate Change for - carnivorous squirrels.

Man, Cali is going to Hell in unimaginable ways.

[Smokin Joe]

These people obviously need to get out more. Take a .22 with them, too.

We have a ground squirrel common in the Western part of North Dakota and Eastern Montana, commonly referred to as "gophers", despite that being a misnomer. For reasons stated on this thread, they are a threat to pastured animals: the holes can be leg-breakers.

So it is popular sport to thin their population. Note: They ARE cannibals, they EAT the wounded, sometimes before they expire. (To wing one and use it as bait is a working strategy, though I prefer clean kills). While they may do things which enamor them to some as "cute", as cold as it may sound, if you keep in mind their cannibalistic nature, you don't even feel the recoil.

[SZonian]

Buncha BS...I've seen squirrels cannibalizing dead squirrels and eating road kill.

Nothing new here...just more "climate change" hysterics.

[MeganC]

These people obviously need to get out more. Take a .22 with them, too.

We have a ground squirrel common in the Western part of North Dakota and Eastern Montana, commonly referred to as "gophers", despite that being a misnomer. For reasons stated on this thread, they are a threat to pastured animals: the holes can be leg-breakers.

So it is popular sport to thin their population. Note: They ARE cannibals, they EAT the wounded, sometimes before they expire. (To wing one and use it as bait is a working strategy, though I prefer clean kills). While they may do things which enamor them to some as "cute", as cold as it may sound, if you keep in mind their cannibalistic nature, you don't even feel the recoil.

Our kids all get a single shot .22 when they turn 12 and shooting gophers is one of their first chores. The kids learn patience and strategy and discipline when they have to clean their rifle before they put it away.

[Smokin Joe]

Our kids all get a single shot .22 when they turn 12 and shooting gophers is one of their first chores. The kids learn patience and strategy and discipline when they have to clean their rifle before they put it away.

[DefiantMassRINO]

The Homies N' The Hood have the fire power to eradicate Governor Greaseball's mutant vampire squirrels.

[PeteS in CA]

I suspect that this was more, "We never noticed this before," than, "Evolution".

There's a peninsula that is part of Marina Park, Faro Point, in San Leandro that is like a squirrel colony, it has so many burrows. If the walking trail around the peninsula weren't paved it would be hazardous to walkers' and runners' ankles.

[240B]

When a pregnant woman says she wants salty potato chips and ice cream with pickles, it is not her conscious mind making the decision. Her body is telling her what she needs. There is something in those things, some vitamin or salts which her body craves, with or without her knowledge.

It is the same with animals and Liberal vegan hippies. They are driven to eat what their body needs whether they want it or not.

[PeteS in CA]

When a pregnant woman says she wants salty potato chips and ice cream with pickles, it is not her conscious mind making the decision. Her body is telling her what she needs. There is something in those things, some vitamin or salts which her body craves, with or without her knowledge.

It is the same with animals and Liberal vegan hippies. They are driven to eat what their body needs whether they want it or not.

The article mentions it happened when there was a surge in the vole population. I wonder if there was also a gap in the food availability, perhaps specifically in the availability of foods with good protein content.

[Smokin Joe]

The article mentions it happened when there was a surge in the vole population. I wonder if there was also a gap in the food availability, perhaps specifically in the availability of foods with good protein content.

Just an alternate source of protein, then. Not a 'conscious' diet decision.