Right or Left Handed?

Are Your Squirrels Right Or Left Handed?

We found that squirrels that strongly favored a paw. Ah ... OK. So. Many. Questions.

The first? Once we knew which paw the squirrel preferred, how did we know the information was an intelligence? Finally, we will see!

Your Squirrels!

Like humans, other animals often favor one side of their body for certain tasks. For example, if you ask your dog to shake hands, he may always offer his left (or right.)

In the study, the squirrels had to get peanuts out of a transparent tube. Typically, squirrels grab food with their mouths but there was a problem. The tube was too narrow for the squirrel's mouth. It had to use a paw. We watched more than 10 squirrels, collecting enough peanuts from 10 tubes. They wanted to see how quickly each squirrel figured out the problem. Whether they favored one paw over the other brought no conclusion! The squirrels conclusion? We say that strongly development of one side of the body or (ambidextrous: a big word!) or the other might be more creative! Squirrels are not as good at learning! It just comes natural! Those who favor neither right nor left hand might be more creative! Again, squirrels may beg to differ!

Want To Know Some Awesome Stuff!?

1. That Big Bushy Tail has a Bunch of Uses

One of it functions in a built-in blanket. In the winter, and as a sunshade in the summer. The tail also helps them balance. It can be used for communication. One person taught some squirrels to open boxes that could contain either a walnut, a kernel of dried corn or nothing! Sometimes the boxes were locked. She found that the squirrels used a long, sweeping tail movement (as opposed to the usual twitching) when they found a box with no goodies or that was locked. She isn't sure if that tail movement was an expression of disgust or a warning to other squirrels not to waste their time. Squirrels use that same tail movement when they get into fighting mode.

2. They Practice "Deceptive Caching"

Squirrels, of course, are famous for hiding nuts as a food supply for the winter. But they also have to protect their precious cargo from other squirrels or birds. So how do they do this? A squirrel will dig a hole and cover it up, all the while holding a nut in its teeth and not depositing it. The squirrel sometimes repeats this several times. By the way, squirrels don't uncover all the nuts they've buried in holes — many of those acorns and other nuts may grow into trees. Thanks, squirrels!

3. It's Hard to Sneak Up on Them

Squirrels have very keen eyesight. Their peripheral vision is as good as their focal eyesight. So, they can see what's above and beside them without moving their heads, making it hard to sneak up on them. Their color vision is not so great, but their pale-yellow lenses act as natural sunglasses by cutting down on sunlight glare.

4. They're Also an Invasive Species

In England, the gray squirrel muscled in on the native red squirrel's territory Red squirrels are known to peel bark off trees in search of sap, or to make homes in attics. Squirrels thrive wherever there's an abundant food supply. And they don't just eat nuts — they'll eat birds, insects, even cheeseburgers or chocolate-chip cookies if they're handy. If you keep your home sealed. Keep tree limbs cut back from the roofline, they are less likely to come inside

Don't Hate This Squirrel Because He's Beautiful! "They're found this way in the wild!" But lo, we have known about the Indian giant squirrel for quite some time.

Ratufa was likely discovered — and hunted — by humans many thousands of years ago.

All Over India

But having spent a good deal of time on the planet doesn't make these colorful squirrels any less interesting.

Found mainly in forests in south, central and east India, Indian giant squirrels are truly giant by squirrel standards. Full-grown adults measure up 3 feet long (including tail), and they weigh nearly 5 pounds . By comparison, an Eastern gray squirrel measures up to 20 to 22 inches long (with tail) and weighs about a pound to a pound and a half.

Indian giant squirrels sport round, almost Panda-like ears, and they have large paws and powerful claws for climbing. As they spend most of their time treating trees like kids treat jungle gyms, these squirrels are athletic: Indian giant squirrels can leap more than 20 feet!

Its predators include birds of prey, snakes and leopards.

Indian Giant Squirrel

Why So Flamboyant?

Speaking of being eaten, you might be wondering why Indian giant squirrels are colored so flamboyantly? Don't the bright colors give them away to these predators?

Tropical squirrels, and Asian squirrels in particular, seem to include some very brightly colored squirrels. I can think of a couple possible explanations. One is that the patches of color break up the visual shape of the squirrel and could make it harder to recognize as a squirrel to a hunting predator. Even light patches on a dark background can have this effect. Not camouflage exactly, but pattern disruption.

Another thought, is that the different colors help squirrels recognize each other, at least at a species level, so they can discern potential mates and rivals from other creatures. Those same patterns could potentially enable visual recognition of individuals as well, although squirrels in general do a lot of communication with scent."

Indian giant squirrels are fairly common. While they were listed as "vulnerable" in 1996 on the their numbers have risen and they are now considered a species of "Least Concern." That's good news for this crazy-colored rodent.

Want to see one in real life? You won't find them in the wild in North America. Your best bet is to head to India and look high up in the trees. Or find them on Twitter, as new people "discover" them.

Thanks, Marie

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