Animal researchers say California ground squirrels and rock squirrels mask their scent by chewing up rattlesnake skin and smearing it on their fur.
— From Squirrels use snake scent for safety at earthtime.org.
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lol I guess whatever it takes to protect them…
Robin I LOVE squirls. They are very intelligent and the cutest beings anybody can have in their garden and environment.
There are so few left in Europe. So sad really. Raccoons are such fun to see balancing in a bush looking at us humans with that attitude as if they are asking: “am I wearing something what belongs to you?!” :-D. And then skunks..they used to slurr themselves through the snow before anyone of us had gone up in the morning..but we hoped to avoid getting in their way at any time.
So the rattlesnakes provided the squirls with the anti-perfume. That is a good one, food for thought.
The name of a fragrance pops up in my mind – just the name, but I tried it – Antidote. I think it was pretty feminine for a mans' scent. But it would not keep the ladiez away. Au contraire, the ladiez could walk away with Antidote instead of the man.
Well that's just about the coolest thing I've read recently. I love quirky trivia / facts.
Dawn
Might work for women who want protection, too
LOL!
Me too
I have to go to the mall today (last minute shopper that I am) – should try rubbing some rattlesnake on myself, keep the crowds at bay! ; )
This confirms my belief that squirrels are one of the smartest little critters around. Smearing chewed-up rattlesnake on themselves, so not to be another rattlesnake's dinner? Gross, yes, but totally ingenius! “Eau de regurgitated serpent” totally dark and ancient-seeming…I'd love to see the ad package for that one (preferably with Calvin Klein-esqe close-ups of squirrels in fierce and unimpressed poses, while a voice-over announcer says things like “Passion for life” and “The essence of survival”). Oh, such giddy thoughts…
LOL — I can see that ad now!
Hey, that would work!
Strange thing happened today…I was with my bf outside his apt building and a big hawk swooped down to take a squirrel. I've never seen that before…poor little guy
Wow, I've never seen one manage it either.