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September 10, 2014
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Carin Bondar is a biologist, writer and film-maker with a PhD in population ecology from the University of British Columbia. Find Dr. Bondar online at www.carinbondar.com, on twitter @drbondar or on her facebook page: Dr. Carin Bondar – Biologist With a Twist. Follow on Twitter @drbondar.
How do squirrels react to being stalked by humans? The answer might surprise you. Have a look at this fun video that addresses this exact issue, with the ultimate purpose of raising some funds for a great cause. Bethany Brookshire (aka @scicurious) of Science News has teamed up with Scott Lewis of Know the Cosmos in order to raise some funds for GeekGirlCon, coming up next month in Seattle.
According to a writeup by Brookshire:
When Bill Bateman was visiting family in New York, he noticed squirrels everywhere. It gave him a testable idea — one that resulted in a published scientific paper. All it took was paying close attention to urban wildlife.
His squirrel study showed that our furry friends in cities are very aware of people. They know what we’re doing and whether we’re a threat to them. His data show squirrels monitor the people around them to succeed in their environment. And it shows that conducting a scientific project doesn’t have to rely on fancy lab equipment.
A fun project for a great cause! Enjoy and donate if you can.
About the Author: Carin Bondar is a biologist, writer and film-maker with a PhD in population ecology from the University of British Columbia. Find Dr. Bondar online at www.carinbondar.com, on twitter @drbondar or on her facebook page: Dr. Carin Bondar – Biologist With a Twist. Follow on Twitter @drbondar.
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Ooooooooooooookaaay.
For a starter to this subject, we got a catalogue a few days ago that had two squirrel things in it, and both of them were for tee shirts. The first one had written on it, “I can’t talk right now, the squirrels are watching”. The other one had “I have reason to believe the squirrels are mocking me”.
As for real squirrels, they have an odd way of thinking, that’s for sure, but, they can be playful too. Try waiting for a squirrel someday and where it can see that you aren’t really a threat to it. And then, use some baby talk and coo a bit at it also. What can occur is that they can roll over and play like they are actually as ridiculous as you are. NO KIDDING.
Other times, you can actually chirp at them and they will look at you like you are totally clueless about not knowing they are not a bird. As in, duh-uh to you.
By the way, these are obvious facts, and so you can know, God used the same type of science that all positive souled humans have also. Their souls though have far less intelligence, but, plenty for their lives, and they have far less emotions also, but, even so, they can actually laugh too. So, they aren’t much different from the way we think either.
As far as laughing, if you catch them on a good sunny day, and throw them “gently” a handful of peanut butter flavored Captain Crunch, if you walk away slowly and smiling at them, after they eat a bite, you have a 96% chance of hearing a giggling squirrel. God did all kinds of things like this in order to get their furry tushed selves to do even the slightest things right. So, their little varmint selves can be helped to be a little more than a bit happy. And cooperative.
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