The infographic summarises this extraordinary, unexpected and widespread California ground squirrel predatory behaviour which on occasions mimicked the predatory behaviour of domestic cats. 😎 This squirrel species usually feeds on acorns, seeds, nuts and fruits.
Do squirrels sometimes hunt prey? Yes, squirrels sometimes hunt prey, though it is not common behavior. Squirrels are primarily herbivorous and feed on seeds, nuts, fruits, and plants. However, many species are opportunistic feeders and will occasionally consume animal matter if the opportunity arises or if food is scarce.
Some examples include:
- Eastern Gray Squirrels and Fox Squirrels: These species have been observed eating insects, bird eggs, or nestlings on rare occasions.
- Red Squirrels: Known to be more territorial and aggressive, they are more likely than other species to hunt small animals like birds or other rodents, especially in northern climates where food sources can be limited during the winter.
- Ground Squirrels: In some cases, these squirrels may consume insects or small reptiles.
This predatory behavior is usually situational and driven by the need for extra protein or a lack of other food options. It’s not their primary diet, and they lack the physical adaptations of dedicated predators.
Some quotes from the research referred to. One of the researchers is Dr Sonja Wild of the University of California Davis. The videos of the squirrels hunting like cats were made by two undergraduates.
“Squirrels are known to occasionally supplement their diets with meat from carcasses, through nest predation on eggs and young birds, and there are isolated reports of squirrels killing small prey [but] such widespread active hunting and killing of mammal prey has so far never been reported.” – Dr Wild.
“I could barely believe my eyes. From then, we saw that behaviour almost every day. Once we started looking, we saw it everywhere.” – Dr. Wild.
“It was shocking and fascinating at the same time. The typical hunting behaviour we observed involved chasing the voles. On rare occasions we have observed squirrels stalking the vole by staying low on the ground and minimising any noise before pouncing on it and attempting to kill it with a bite to the neck or other body part [this almost mimics cat predation techniques]. On one occasion, we saw a squirrel killing a vole by vigorous lateral bite-shaking.” – Dr Wild.
More: domestic cat predation
