- What do you think you know about these animals?
Do you know how far a flying squirrel can fly? Here are nine more fun facts about squirrels.
These mammals can help with stroke research
They way that ground squirrels brain functions during hibernation may be the key to helping scientists develop a new drug that can limit the brain damage done when we humans has a stroke. Their body temperature becomes so low, it’s possibly the lowest of any mammal on Earth. It’s during this time that a squirrel’s brain undergoes cellular changes that help the brain deal with less blood flow. Researchers are now working on a drug that could do the same process within the human brain therefore preventing cells from dying with the loss of blood during a stroke.
Truffles Need Squirrels
It’s the squirrels digestive system that helps the survival of truffles. Truffles need animals like them to spread their spores to host plants in other places. The squirrel’s poop the spores onto the forest floor which allows fungi to create the symbiotic relations with the tree roots it’s closest to.
They Have Hot Tails
Have you ever seen a cat “poof”? You know, when all their hair sticks up on end? Well, squirrels can do this with their tail. A squirrel with wave its tail at a rattlesnake or even whip their tales at others during the day or night. Rattlesnakes can even feel a heat coming from the tail!
Squirrels>Hackers
These animals can cause more disruption to our electricity than hackers can. Starting in 1987, a website named Cyber Squirrel 1 started documenting every public record citing squirrels (or other animals) disrupting power services. According to a 2016 survey of public power utilities, animals were the most common cause of power outages.
Squirrels Lie
Gray squirrels may engage in “tactical deception.” This behavior has been seen before but only in primates according to a 2008 study. They will pretend to dig a hole as if they’re burying their acorns/nuts but instead they tuck their treats into the mouth and go somewhere else to bury it.
They Are Organized Mammals
Squirrels keep their walnuts, pecans, almonds, and hazelnuts in groups according to type. This is a method of “spatial chunking” helps them to remember where they are when they want to get them. However this may have been discounted, thinking they store them instead by size.
They Help Determine A Healthy Forest
Researchers are able to look as tree squirrel populations to see how well a forest is really doing. Theyon their habitat for seeds, nesting sites, and food storage. This means the presence of these squirrels shows the health of a mature forest.
As Pets?
These creatures used to be America’s most popular pet. Since the 1700s, these mammals have been a part of Americans pets and have even been sold in pet stores. By the 1920s, having squirrels as pets was declining as exotic animals laws were on the rise.
They Jump Far
A study showed that plantain squirrels roaming around the National University of Singapore could jump an amazing ten feet in one jump. Another squirrel was seen jumping over eight feet or ten times the length of its own body. Flying squirrels go much further of course cand can glide up to 295 feet.
For more, read about these naughty squirrels at Out-of-Control Squirrels Are Destroying Scottish Homes. And let me know which squirrel fact is your favorite in the comments!