Who ate all the nuts? Fat squirrels

The unusually mild winter temperatures in many areas this year has caused flowers to bloom early, trees to blossom and even produced some of the earliest crops of asparagus ever seen.

But the abundance of food and warm weather also seems to have been having an effect on squirrels too – by making them fat.

Sightings of seemingly overweight squirrels have been sweeping as the rodents take advantage of the mild conditions to cram in extra food in preparation for the cold weather, when it finally arrives.

Much like their distant human relatives, it seems squirrels are also prone to overindulging at this time of year.

Now scientists have shown the creatures really are fast learners, capable of adapting tactics to improve efficiency and reap the best rewards, which perhaps explains their ability to nibble even the most well-protected foods.

Although grey squirrels do not hibernate – they are active all year round – they usually pile on extra weight to help them survive the lean cold months of winter, when they must rely upon food they have stored.

Nick Mason, project manager for Red Squirrels, said: ‘Squirrels are opportunists and much like humans will take advantage of any food that is available.

‘It is fairly typical for squirrels to put on weight through the year and this can vary depending on the stage of their breeding cycle and their life cycle.

Source: Daily mail

N.H.Khider