We all know that squirrels are small and incredibly cute animals, that they adore eating nuts and a quite furry – but there’s actually a ton of interesting stuff about squirrels that most people have never heard about before.
Aside from their overload of cuteness, here are nine other reasons why squirrels are awesome.
1) Their love for nuts helps to plant trees
With climate change and the ozone layer becoming smaller and smaller, we shouldn’t underestimate the effect that trees have on our environment. Now, you’ve probably seen squirrels carrying around a precious nut or even buried deep in the ground, but sometimes these squirrels forgot about their prized possessions – and after a bit of time, a new tree is born.
2) Squirrels are effective pest control
If you thought that squirrels were herbivores, you’re a bit wrong. Although they’re mostly known for eating plant-based substances (including tasty acorns and berries), they also eat insects and smaller vertebrate if they can’t find anything else they like. Squirrels in your backyard might actually be a pretty effective way of doing some pest control.
3) They’re cunningly smart
Smartness isn’t exactly a character trait that many would link to a squirrel, but compared to other animals in the animal kingdom, they certainly have a high intelligence level. Whenever they’re in danger, they run around in zig-zag pattern which makes them unpredictable. They also communicate with each other with scent marking for example and use their tail as a method of warning other squirrels.
4) Some squirrels can glide around
Now, while there’s no such thing as a flying squirrel, it’s certainly quite close. Some squirrels have a lot of skin between their limbs, which allows them to glide around from higher locations. Squirrels gliding distances up to 300 feet aren’t uncommon!
5) They don’t like leaving waste behind
People always get quite an uneasy feeling whenever there’s an animal snooping around garbage cans, but squirrels are in fact helping to clean up the waste left behind by people. They surely don’t mind hanging around wasteful areas to eat anything tasty.
6) Squirrels are serious acrobats
Squirrels are quite impressive, but it’s hard to marvel at their acrobatic wonders because they move extremely fast. They climb trees like a champion and with an incredible quickness. Their athletic ability is second to none.
7) They can consume their own body weight in a week
It’s no secret that squirrels do love to eat, and the image of somewhat pudgier squirrels during the winter period certainly is an adorable thing to witness. They get bulkier because it helps them to stay warm during harsh winters. Even though they’re small, they can actually eat their body weight in seeds – in just a week’s time!
8) They don’t mind hanging around with humans
Wild animals generally don’t interact well with people, but most squirrels are an exception to the rule. Squirrels are really friendly and would never attack a human, but they wouldn’t say no to eating from someone’s palms either.
9) Their sense of smell is impressive
Squirrels generally don’t have an easy life during the winters, especially when it’s snowing. They don’t like the colder temperature, and it’s harder to find food as well. Some squirrel species can actually sense food even when it’s buried under a foot of snow. They then simply dig a tunnel to reach their meal.
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