California-Saba:
Scientists have discovered for the first time "amazing" evidence of predatory behavior in squirrels, as they hunt and eat field mice in the US state of California.
Squirrels are usually seen filling their cheeks with nuts, seeds or grains, indicating that they are a species that feeds on plants.
But the latest discovery, published in the journal Ethology, suggests that squirrels may be opportunistic carnivores (that is, they are mainly vegetarians but also consume meat) and have a more flexible diet than previously thought.
“This was shocking,” “we had never seen this behavior before. This was a behavior we didn’t expect and highlights the fact that there is a lot to learn about the natural history of the world around us,” Jennifer Smith, a UCLA biology professor and lead author of the study, said.
The scientists documented multiple instances in which squirrels of all ages were seen catching and eating mice and competing for prey in less than two months.
| more of (Press) |