Scientists have found California ground squirrels are evolving in a ‘shocking’ way – the animals have developed a taste for flesh.
While these squirrels are known to eat a lizard on occasion, a new video captured dozens of them hunting, attacking and feasting on rodents for the first time.
The bizarre behavior was observed between June 10 and July 30 at Briones Regional Park in Contra Costa County as cameras recorded 74 interactions between squirrels and voles, which are similar to hamsters.
But more than 32 of those exchanges ended with the squirrel eating its prey.
The predator typically restrained the rodent with its forepaws and teeth, then deliver one or several bites killing bites to the neck area.
On one occasion, scientists watched in horror as a squirrel ‘vigorously’ shook its prey while holding it in its mouth.
‘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.’
These carnivorous eating habits coincided with an explosion of vole numbers in the park.