Squirrels Defence Mechanism III: Behaviors

In the previous article we have talked about the common predators that squirrels would do pretty well to avoid instead of coming in close encounter with them and we have also learned that we are one of those things that squirrels avoid. Humans being so conquering in nature would do anything, conscious or unconscious to show their dominion over everything and that would including impressing our superiority into small creatures like squirrels, especially if they happen to cross our territories. Sometimes, we choose to domesticate the docile creatures or we could just dispatch them and rid of them for good whenever we want to with the use of the most potent eradicating mechanisms we know of. This is how dangerous we are to squirrels as they can't do anything to avoid us once we decide on absolutely icing them. The human frenzy to kill is the most dangerous thing on earth as the only thing that can stop is human intervention only, apart from miraculous intervention and divine providence which doesn't really happen a lot in common terms. That's why if possible; squirrel would do everything they can to stand out of our way. However there are just these times, being small brained animals as they are, they would unintentionally cross our paths and therefore they get obliterated along the way. Squirrels could only pray to live (that is if they do actually pray) in our presence.

Also we have learned that animals such as snakes and hunter birds are also part of the entire enemy list for squirrels and squirrels would try to avoid them as much as they can as well. Although they may not be as fatal as human's killing frenzy but they could do some serious damage as well and pose considerable threat to the squirrel race. They would try to hide from them as well as there is a greater risk of fatality than survival when it comes to encountering their animal foes. However, we have also learned that at times they could also fight back and there are actually tangible possibilities of squirrels winning against them like the Californian ground squirrels over rattlesnakes. There instances that the rattlesnakes would rather fear the heating up squirrel instead of the other way around. Such are indeed very fascinating facts about squirrels that are worth mentioning about.

In this article we will now then thoroughly discuss the behaviors that constitute a squirrel's defence mechanisms. We will tackle each of those behaviors in every squirrel aspect. That means talking about specific parts of the body of a squirrel and how they would react to a certain degree or level of fear depending on what kind of attacking predator there is. Squirrels do have these characteristics and they are quite noticeable since squirrels are usually quite timid and easily fearing animals. They scurry a lot and they would prefer hiding from the sight of their predators rather than engaging them right on, which would definitely prove mostly as suicide to them. Not that they think of it that way though, but that's how we humans would most likely see it.

The Defence Behaviors

Squirrels actually have a variety of sets of behaviors for them to be able to ward off or thwart any impending threats.

Visual Presence

Actually, without doing much, a squirrel is already engaged into self-protection mode with just by their fur colors. The colors of squirrels are usually brown or auburn, or red in color and these colors pretty much that of the trees they usually dwell in. These fur colors already serve as camouflage mechanism for squirrels, thus enabling them to be hardly seen once they are already in the trees or in the ground. It also makes it easier for them relocate from one side to another in a tree trunk and the predators would somehow be unable to notice them move. However, certain squirrel predators are undeceived by this squirrel trick, especially those animals that have really keen sight. They could almost immediately detect a squirrel on the way while still in some far distance from the target.

There are other squirrel species such as the southern flying squirrels commonly found in Mexico that chooses a time in a day to be active. They tend to be more active at night where there is poor visibility to conceal themselves in their activities, especially when searching for food. They spend most of the time in a day hiding from their known predators.

The Squirrel Feet

A squirrel's feet are actually quite a feat. If you pay some time to notice a squirrel's feet, you will come to notice that they are actually capable of leaving them in a fix position while their bodies would rotate 180 degrees to see their backs. That's like literally being able to watch their backs. This would enable squirrels to easily escape in case of incoming dangers. Their flexibility is a key characteristic that would ensure their survival.

The Tail

A tail may just be a tail to some creatures. To some may be for balancing purposes. But to squirrels it means their life. A squirrel's tail is actually used to defend squirrels in times of danger. They would normally flick their tails from left to right and vice versa to somehow confuse the incoming predator. If ever a predator would become impatient and lunges in right and pounce the moving tail, the tail would then easily break off from the squirrel's body. We could say therefore that the tail is also an agitator to its predators and an escape button to the squirrels. Fortunately for squirrels, they could always grow it back eventually whenever it breaks off. You may have also noticed this defence mechanism characteristic in lizards. Lizards are quite efficient in this sort of evasive maneuver.

Sound Effects

The shrill chirping sounds that squirrels make aren't only for nuisance purposes, but it also works as a defence mechanism to fend off any incoming predators. Often the predators are unable to tolerate the sounds that they make. Also, in context of sounds, squirrels are able to assess the amount of danger that is imminent by the sound that the predators produce.