Squirrels are intelligent and trainable. Correct?
Yes, that’s correct! Squirrels are intelligent animals and can indeed be trained informally, especially when it comes to tasks that involve food rewards. In the wild, they display a high level of problem-solving ability, particularly when it comes to finding food, storing it, and evading predators. This intelligence can be harnessed in a more controlled environment.
People have successfully trained squirrels to do things like come when called, take food from their hands, or even complete simple obstacle courses. The key to training squirrels, as with many animals, is consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement—usually in the form of food rewards like nuts or seeds.
While squirrels are wild animals and their behavior can be unpredictable, they can learn to associate certain actions with positive outcomes. This informal training typically occurs in backyard settings where squirrels become accustomed to humans and the rewards they offer. However, it’s important to approach this kind of interaction with caution and respect for the animal’s wild nature.
I have seen squirrels approach tourists for water in drought conditions (see link below). They catch on to new human behaviours quickly. My cat does not bother the squirrel you see in the photo as he knows that he can’t catch him and even if he believed he could catch the squirrel he probably realises that there is a danger of being harmed so he generally steers clear. Some cats do chase squirrels that said. Dogs seem to love it but always fail.
More: Squirrel begs tourist for water under drought conditions
Squirrels have relatively poor eyesight but an excellent sense of smell. Correct?
Not quite. Squirrels actually have fairly good eyesight, especially when it comes to detecting motion. They rely on their vision to spot predators and navigate their environment. Squirrels have a wide field of view because their eyes are located on the sides of their heads, allowing them to see a large area around them without moving their heads.
Their eyesight is particularly sharp in detecting movement, which is crucial for survival. However, they may not have the same level of depth perception or color vision as humans, which can lead to the misconception that their eyesight is poor.
As for their sense of smell, you’re correct—squirrels do have an excellent sense of smell. They use it to locate food, such as buried nuts, and to detect predators or other squirrels. Their sense of smell is a critical tool for finding food, even when it’s hidden or buried under several inches of snow or soil.
Okay, thanks but they can’t see peanuts I put down for them. The home in on them from 10 yards away with their noses.
That makes sense! Squirrels often rely heavily on their sense of smell to locate food, especially when it’s not moving or is partially hidden. While they do have good eyesight, their ability to detect small, stationary objects like peanuts from a distance might not be as sharp as their ability to spot movement or larger objects. So when you put down peanuts, they might initially rely on their keen sense of smell to hone in on the exact location rather than spotting them visually from far away.
Their excellent sense of smell allows them to detect food from considerable distances, even when it’s buried or hidden. This is why they might seem to “home in” on the peanuts using their noses, especially if they’re downwind and can catch the scent.
Note: I was talking to an AI bot: ChatGPT. Nice chat we had. 😃😊
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