Predatory Behavior of California Ground Squirrels

A recent study reveals that California ground squirrels are exhibiting predatory behavior by hunting and consuming small mammals like voles. Researchers documented the entire process through video, showcasing how these squirrels approach, tackle, and eat their prey, which demonstrates a significant shift from their typical diet of nuts and seeds. Previously recorded accounts of similar behavior were isolated events, but this study confirms a pattern within specific populations of squirrels living in a regional park in the Bay Area. The increased availability of voles may have influenced this behavior, leading researchers to explore how these squirrels learn this predation technique and its potential effects on their population dynamics.