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Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Squirrel Defense System

posted by on August 15 at 16:06 PM

I’ve posted before on Slog about my severe distrust of squirrels. But even I have to admit this is pretty cool:

Squirrels are not as helpless as they may seem when confronted by rattlesnakes eager to make dinner of their pups. A new study reveals one of their most powerful tactics: the rodents heat their bushy tails and wave them back and forth to warn infrared-sensitive snakes they will not get fast food.

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Infrared video showed that California ground squirrels’ tails warmed by several degrees, up to 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit), when threatened by northern Pacific rattlesnakes, which detect the infrared glow from small mammals using so-called pit organs in their noses. But no heating occurred while the rodents defended against gopher snakes, which lack such heat seekers, according to a report in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA.

RSS icon Comments

1

They can do this, except for when they're DRUNK on pumpkins

Posted by KELLY O | August 15, 2007 4:55 PM
2

Beware their Squirrelly Wrath!

Posted by Will in Seattle | August 15, 2007 6:13 PM
3

OK, but does it save them from rattlesnake attacks?

Posted by lawrence clark | August 16, 2007 4:27 AM
4

I'm guessing all the heated tail waving distorts their heat signature, makes them seem larger or harder to pinpoint, or some such. Probably confuses the snake a bit and gives the little bugger a chance to escape.

Posted by Toby | August 16, 2007 11:01 AM
5

@3 - I'm guessing this behavior would not have evolved if it had no survival benefit.

Posted by Levislade | August 16, 2007 11:12 AM

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