10 Surprising and Little-Known Facts About Squirrels

Squirrels are some of the most fascinating and beloved creatures in the animal kingdom, with their bushy tails, nimble movements, and playful behavior. While many people may be familiar with these backyard critters, there are also many lesser-known facts and secrets about squirrels that may surprise you.

In this article, we’ll explore 10 surprising and little-known facts about squirrels, from their unique physical adaptations to their important role in our ecosystem.

Squirrels Can Communicate with Each Other Using Tail Movements

Squirrels have a wide range of vocalizations and body language that they use to communicate with each other, including tail movements. By flicking or twitching their tails in certain ways, squirrels can convey information about their mood, intentions, and even potential threats in their environment.

For example, a squirrel may flick its tail rapidly when it senses danger or a potential predator nearby. Alternatively, a squirrel may wave its tail slowly and deliberately to communicate that it is feeling calm and relaxed.

Overall, the ability of squirrels to communicate with each other using tail movements is just one of the many fascinating aspects of their behavior and biology.

Squirrels Have an Excellent Sense of Smell

While squirrels are often associated with their visual acuity and nimble movements, they also have an excellent sense of smell that they use to navigate and find food in their environment. In fact, some researchers have found that squirrels may rely more heavily on their sense of smell than their sense of vision.

Squirrels also have specialized olfactory receptors in their noses that allow them to detect certain chemicals and pheromones in their environment. This ability to detect and interpret scents is vital for squirrels to find food and avoid predators.

Overall, the sense of smell of squirrels is just one of the many fascinating aspects of their biology and behavior.

Some Squirrels Can Glide Through the Air

While many people are familiar with the tree-climbing abilities of squirrels, some species are also able to glide through the air using specialized flaps of skin called “patagia.” These patagia allow squirrels to glide from tree to tree, covering distances of up to 150 feet in a single glide.

One example of a gliding squirrel is the flying squirrel, which is found in North America and Eurasia. These squirrels are able to glide by extending their patagia and changing the angle of their body to control their trajectory.

Overall, the ability of some squirrels to glide through the air is just one of the many fascinating adaptations that these amazing creatures have developed.

Squirrels Can Rotate Their Ankles 180 Degrees

One of the most unique physical adaptations of squirrels is their ability to rotate their ankles 180 degrees. This allows squirrels to climb up and down trees with ease, as well as to quickly change direction and avoid predators.

The ability to rotate their ankles so extensively is due to the specialized structure of their ankle bones and ligaments. This structure allows squirrels to adjust the position of their feet and grip tree bark or other surfaces with ease.

Overall, the ankle rotation ability of squirrels is just one of the many fascinating adaptations that these amazing creatures have developed.

Squirrels Have Enormous Front Teeth that Never Stop Growing

One of the most distinctive physical features of squirrels is their large, sharp front teeth. These teeth are used for gnawing and biting, as well as for cracking open nuts and other tough food items.

One interesting fact about squirrel teeth is that they never stop growing, much like the teeth of other rodents. This means that squirrels must constantly wear down their teeth through chewing and gnawing, or risk developing dental issues.

Overall, the unique dental structure of squirrels is just one of the many fascinating aspects of their biology and behavior.

Squirrels Can Run Up to 20 Miles Per Hour

While squirrels are often associated with their climbing and gliding abilities, they are also incredibly fast runners. In fact, some species of squirrels are able to run at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour, allowing them to quickly escape predators or find food.

The running speed of squirrels is due to their powerful hind legs, which are adapted for jumping and running. Additionally, squirrels are able to quickly change direction thanks to their nimble movements and specialized ankle structure.

Overall, the running speed of squirrels is just one of the many fascinating aspects of their behavior and biology.

Squirrels Can Remember the Locations of Thousands of Food Caches

Squirrels are known for their habit of burying and caching nuts and other food items for later consumption. What is perhaps even more impressive is their ability to remember the locations of these food caches, even months or years later.

Studies have shown that squirrels are able to use a combination of visual landmarks and olfactory cues to remember the location of their food caches. In some cases, squirrels are even able to retrieve food items that they have buried in snow or other challenging environments.

Overall, the memory and caching abilities of squirrels are just one of the many fascinating aspects of their behavior and biology.

Squirrels Can Recognize Individual Humans

While many people may view squirrels as just another backyard critter, they are actually capable of recognizing and remembering individual humans. This ability is thought to be due to their keen sense of vision and their ability to detect subtle differences in human appearance, such as clothing or facial features.

In some cases, squirrels may even develop a preference or aversion to certain humans based on past experiences. For example, if a human has fed a squirrel in the past, the squirrel may be more likely to approach that human in the future.

Overall, the ability of squirrels to recognize and remember individual humans is just one of the many fascinating aspects of their behavior and biology.

Squirrels Can Eat Poisonous Mushrooms Without Being Harmed

While many animals are susceptible to the toxins found in certain types of mushrooms, squirrels are able to eat these mushrooms without being harmed. This is due to a specific liver enzyme that squirrels possess, which allows them to break down and detoxify the harmful compounds found in these mushrooms.

This ability is particularly useful for squirrels, as many types of mushrooms are commonly found in their natural habitat. By being able to safely consume these mushrooms, squirrels are able to take advantage of a valuable food source that other animals may avoid.

Overall, the ability of squirrels to eat poisonous mushrooms without being harmed is just one of the many fascinating adaptations that these amazing creatures have developed.

Squirrels Can Survive Falls of Up to 100 Feet

While falls from great heights can be fatal for many animals, squirrels are able to survive falls from heights of up to 100 feet or more. This is due to their unique anatomy and physiology, which allows them to absorb the impact of a fall and minimize the risk of injury.

One key adaptation that helps squirrels to survive falls is their relatively low body weight, which reduces the force of impact upon landing. Additionally, squirrels are able to position their bodies in a way that helps to slow their descent and absorb the shock of landing.

Overall, the ability of squirrels to survive falls from great heights is just one of the many fascinating adaptations that these amazing creatures have developed.

And, finally, to conclude.

Squirrels are truly amazing creatures with a wide range of fascinating adaptations and behaviors. From their ability to glide through the air to their incredible memory and recognition abilities, there is much to discover and appreciate about these beloved backyard critters. By learning more about these unique and little-known facts about squirrels, we can gain a better understanding and appreciation for the diversity and complexity of life on our planet.