It was a pretty gruesome summer for the vole population in California.
·
The Lede
California ground squirrels were observed hunting, killing and eating voles (a smaller rodent,) marking it the first recorded evidence of squirrels regularly consuming meat. Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UW-Eau Claire) and the University of California (UC), Davis, documented this behavior at Briones Regional Park in Contra Costa County, during June and July 2024. The activity peaked in early July, at the same time a sudden rise in the vole population was observed.
Key Details
- These findings have reclassified California ground squirrels as opportunistic omnivores, and not strictly granivorous.
- Scientist believe that squirrels' ability to adapt their diet may help them thrive in environments rapidly altered by human activity.
- Researchers are still unsure of how widespread this behavior is and whether it gets passed on to next generations.
- "I could barely believe my eyes,” said Sonja Wild, one of the project's lead. "Once we started looking, we saw it everywhere."
