Squirrels That Smell Like Snakes

By Dawn Stover Posted 12.19.2007 at 6:00 pm 3 Comments

Squirrel chewing on shed snakeskin then applying it to its tail fur. Filmed by Barbara Clucas, UC Davis.

California ground squirrels and rock squirrels have evolved a sneaky strategy to avoid being eaten by their worst enemy: They create a rattlesnake "perfume" that masks their squirrelly scent.

Barbara Clucas, a graduate student in animal behavior at UC Davis, watched how the squirrels do it (check out her video, above). First they chew up skins shed by rattlesnakes. Then they lick themselves to spread skin pieces and snake-flavored spit on their fur. Some squirrels even gather snake odor from dirt where snakes have rested. When the squirrels curl up for their own naps, they sleep more safely.

Clucas and colleagues at UC Davis, Sam Houston State University and New Mexico State University published their findings in the journal Animal Behavior.—Dawn Stover

Video by Barbara Clucas, UC Davis

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3 Comments

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popsci

12/20/07 at 1:43 pm

Interesting, but pit vipers are known for hunting by heat sensor not smell.

Squirrels apparently surge blood into thier tails when alarmed to trick the rattlesnake.

This behavior may be more to do with competition among squirrels?

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popsci

12/20/07 at 5:38 pm

Squirrel peer pressure? "Dude, I dare you to go chew the snake skin."

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popsci

12/21/07 at 1:30 pm

I wonder if this repellant odor is related to Bombesin, which was first discover in the skin of poisonous frogs.

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