"It appears that other squirrels are able to watch a caching squirrel and then go directly to the cache site, even if chased or interrupted in their path to the cache site," Steele explained. "However, once they arrive at an empty cache site, they give up the search as soon as they discover that it is empty." Squirrels aren't the only animals caught in the act of deception. Steele says that deception is relatively common among primates and social carnivores. Humans, of course, are among the most skilled individuals at deception, as any given moment in a Las Vegas casino might prove. While there is no doubt that we consciously deceive, the scientists can't yet prove that squirrels make a tactical decision to fool others. Lisa Leaver, a senior lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of Exeter, said no one has yet proven that squirrels can understand the intentions of others, which would mean that they possess "theory of mind," so she thinks it's possible squirrels simply act based on trial and error. Steele, however, suspects that squirrels are indeed tactical deceivers. He hopes future research will confirm these suspicions that he and many a bird-feeding homeowner have.
Jennifer Viegas' blog: Born Animal |
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