Astounding Adaptations

One cool adaptation I have learned and used as a teaching tool is a new observation within California Ground Squirrel populations. California Ground Squirrels live in a large, intersecting burrow, where several dozen Ground Squirrels call home. They use their burrow for storing food, giving birth, raising young, resting, hibernation, and to hide from predators. Most predators can not breach the maze of tunnels that can reach four feet below the soil's surface. Some burrows can expand over thirty feet in length, which makes it pointless for predators to dig into burrows to find their prey.

Only one predator can breach the Ground Squirrels home, which are snakes. Snakes can easily enter and exit the Ground Squirrels' burrow, and being that each member within the colony create their own entrance into the burrow, snakes are provided ample ways to sneak into their home unseen. Snakes also hibernate during the winter and can use the Ground Squirrels burrow to sleep during the cold winter months. Now that wouldn't work out too well for the Squirrels who have been storing their food to have resources during this time. Also, newborns can not fight off snakes and can easily be eaten. Every Ground Squirrel does it's part to keep their homes snake free.

When you're out hiking and you hear barking and see a Ground Squirrel standing alert, making the loud ruckus, you know this Squirrel is alerting other Squirrels nearby of your presence. This behavior aids other Ground Squirrels in the area for danger. You can also observe this behavior with Quail, Scrub Jays, and other species.

But unlike other species, Ground Squirrels take their position of guarding their homes way further then most creatures do. They actually fight and trick their predators. It doesn't depend on the size of the snake or even if its a rattlesnake, they will try anything to scare away the snake. Throwing debris, kicking up dirt, biting, and dodging the snake are commonly observed. Also, California Ground Squirrels collect snake sheddings from various species. Rattlesnake and Gopher snake shedding is most commonly used. The Ground Squirrels chew on the snake shedding until it turns into a sticky paste. Ground Squirrels then rub this paste into the fur on their bushy tails. Snakes, who can only see by heat and smell, easily mistaken Squirrels (who now smell of snakes) for a larger snake and quickly slither away to safety.

Ground Squirrels use Gopher Snake and Rattlesnake shedding for two reasons. The first, rattlesnakes are venomous, and seen as a danger for many non-venomous species. Gopher Snakes one the other hand are immune to rattlesnakes (so are kingsnakes), and known to eat smaller snake species, including rattlesnakes.

So there are some adaptions I had shared and if you haven't learned them already, I hope you enjoyed it. I have attached some really cool videos on these adaptations.