They’ll eat their dead, too. Every late May through June, squirrels run across the rural roads in California, especially in the Sierra Nevada foothills but also in the coastal range. Squirrel bodies are everywhere.
Some of the live ones will be chomping on the remains of their fallen brethren.
(I remember driving with my older biologist brother when I was 15 and I said, “Oh, look. That squirrel is trying to carry off its dead buddy.” Yeah. He set me straight.)
TIL squirrels will eat meat. And their own dead. I’m disappointed, and will never look at them the same way again. I’m glad they don’t get close.
So much for our calling them Nutty, Nutkins, Nutcracker, etc. I guess ZombieZquirrel should be in there too.
A lot of herbivores will eat meat when the opportunity comes up. Toucans will gulp baby birds and orangutans will actually eat little primates. I’ve seen a hare nibbling on roadkill. It felt like king Duncan had been murdered and the natural order upset, but really it’s just enjoying a protein supplement.
Deer will eat carrion, chickens love meat, I think in the end we’re nearly all opportunistic omnivores.
News to me too.
And live things too.
“Michael, he ate a bird!”
If you wanna see, skip to 1 minute:
No.
You’re welcome then (for the warning).
Uh, thanks!
The Two Little Squirrels (Nuts To You)
Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
