42% of Squirrel-Vole Encounters Are Predatory, Study Finds

[{"selector":"#anim-874ea48d-a1ab-45ab-8bed-83dc17dd6aad","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5d5e25cc-2761-458e-8738-b1935dd3cb9f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-24d4f834-f7f9-4803-bf04-dae713c3ca92","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-108d62fe-5f7e-40d8-b0ac-7185669de769","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-124.75728%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] 42% of Squirrel-Vole Encounters Are Predatory, Study Finds Karmactive Staff

Recent research shows California ground squirrels have been hunting and consuming voles, marking the first documented evidence of widespread carnivorous behavior in this species.

[{"selector":"#anim-1e1199f1-4a4f-434d-85f4-daa9a4366771","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-28b2a0a2-f72b-42ca-9bf2-99eff534b242","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-821d1d8c-3f73-4df3-b321-8130055ad864","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1b3f5cde-a2ff-4682-bcdf-e8fe9038c1e0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-388d5ade-66ca-46b1-a8fb-45749514b16e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credit: Sonja Wild/UC Davis Credit: Sonja Wild/UC Davis

The research team documented 74 squirrel-vole interactions between June 10 and July 30 for the study, with 42% involving active predation.

[{"selector":"#anim-16e5be72-abf8-4742-8738-5d72d1b00556","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-72acf39c-b101-46f9-a434-a790c514fb35","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.78070%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aaf2bd70-289c-47c7-a60b-f239772d176d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6adc307b-2b22-4b47-b9cc-ca4f95a397b3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-132927ab-f55e-47eb-b79d-5e786bc15d76","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credit: Sonja Wild/UC Davis Credit: Sonja Wild/UC Davis

The carnivorous behavior peaked during early July, coinciding with a surge in the local vole population, suggesting an opportunistic response to increased prey availability.

[{"selector":"#anim-70e3a34a-83fb-4256-be41-f5aec788ee71","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6de4d33d-0af1-4aec-bfc9-08e2e8a709a9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f42241fa-49c6-47c7-b046-c690ae3d9ddd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-48334115-d94b-489b-ae94-21bf28ec48e4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4f03bef5-12a4-4e2d-b277-497209f240c9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Peter Trimming (CC BY 2.0) Photo Source: Peter Trimming (CC BY 2.0)

Complex social dynamics were observed between squirrels and voles, including positive interactions such as foraging, alongside competitive behaviors like physical confrontation.

[{"selector":"#anim-d58a2cec-1cf5-43be-8e3d-04d9d31c59ad","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-36828169-f8b6-4280-af4f-b58597b44eeb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.34928%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e1642eb6-322d-42b6-b48d-722a59b4682a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2e43e2c5-88b1-4d2e-822c-9eb1eb8266c7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c3d03cda-f4cb-4885-9a7a-36d42ec8b6a8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Phil Mitchell (Pexels) Photo Source: Phil Mitchell (Pexels)

John Kaprowski comments on this behaviour as it being a wonderful way for the squirrels to capitalize on a very abundant resource.

[{"selector":"#anim-054e18d1-a22d-4bd4-8354-1b589a519b60","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8acff065-6f89-4595-ac34-2478bcfb69a8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-191cb75d-6a9d-4f67-883c-19c724cd8aa0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6af2a890-10a7-439d-b05f-c2af6b812264","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9db27b43-11e1-4bb1-9f3e-e350f0cd6bd5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: USFWS Midwest Region (PDM 1.0) Photo Source: USFWS Midwest Region (PDM 1.0)

The research team plans to return next summer to assess whether this hunting behavior affects squirrel reproduction compared to the past decade's data.

[{"selector":"#anim-7ac9eef9-9006-4024-8fa0-f63f7306b58b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0e66dd15-73c0-49b6-8274-d061454dcda2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.78070%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-01faae53-e40a-4973-b8d9-631c63a46eac","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a8cbd9ce-0113-4665-85f4-95105095ded9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3f88675c-d5fc-4c12-83f6-9a4a3d24796c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credit: Sonja Wild/UC Davis Credit: Sonja Wild/UC Davis

Researchers commend the animals showing incredible resilience and by studying these processes they can offer meaningful insights for conservation.

[{"selector":"#anim-8daa73de-f520-4cbf-960e-00b2e0172923","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-09ac6874-8260-4016-a28c-843c5d1b8b76","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7841c43e-3c57-42b2-82c9-917c2179f68a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f3a6de16-4eb7-4316-8877-02c67d6097ba","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3d9bd2ed-f2d8-4327-9a38-16d64d6b7e7e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region Photo Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region

California ground squirrels being behaviorally flexible in terms of food availability might help them persist in environments rapidly changing due to the presence of humans.

[{"selector":"#anim-0039d971-ccc6-489b-904c-bef6c0391605","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2723666d-1024-4106-9e51-8e30c186e96c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.34928%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a1e9d2c3-39c1-4d6e-9a50-dba1f5ebe3f5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9fe37c72-a6db-4916-8072-66085025d4c5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1ebb96bf-dc8e-4229-a3f5-c21e2867eecc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Ahment Yüksek (Pexels) Photo Source: Ahment Yüksek (Pexels)

[{"selector":"#anim-9773eb5a-17cb-402b-8562-9422b96582e8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-648aac0f-eb52-4767-8ea0-dbdbd8618201","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b3bbcb5b-101e-46f7-9131-1ad0a9f35c89","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.1994%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99b6518d-004c-4e4c-941b-07c140187c45","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fc678e4a-8786-454a-9d0d-1b63ffdc4452","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.87301%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Endangered Peñasco Least Chipmunk's Habitat Shrinks to 4,386 Acres Learn more