Eric Moonstrike

BLACK EMMA FROST

California squirrels are eating rodents in broad daylight. In California’s Briones Regional Park, researchers observed a startling new behavior: California ground squirrels, typically known for eating nuts and seeds, are now hunting, killing, and consuming voles, a smaller rodent species in their habitat. A study in the Journal of Ethology documented 74 squirrel-vole interactions, with 42% involving squirrels stalking, pouncing on, and eating voles. This behavior, observed almost daily, marks the first recorded instance of widespread carnivory in this species. While squirrels have occasionally eaten insects or bird eggs, actively hunting warm-blooded prey is unprecedented. Student-recorded videos show squirrels chasing voles, restraining them with forepaws, biting their necks, and consuming their flesh or organs. The behavior may stem from a vole population surge—nearly seven times the state’s ten-year average—prompting squirrels to exploit this abundant protein source. Squirrels of all ages and sexes participated, suggesting a potential lasting adaptation. It’s unclear if this carnivorous trend will continue once vole numbers normalize, but the discovery reveals the surprising adaptability of even well-known animals. ["Squirrels Are Displaying ‘Widespread Carnivorous Behavior’ for the First Time in a California Park, New Study Finds." Smithsonian Magazine, 2025]