Ground squirrels heat their tails to defend their young against predatory rattlesnakes, reports a study published in the early online edition of Proceedings of the Natural Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Biologists found the could quite accurately predict what type of predator was threatening a squirrel by analyzing its sounds and tail movements. Everyone has watched squirrels playfully climbing trees ...

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Whole scientific careers have gone into understanding why a harmless handful of fluff like a California ground squirrel taunts rattlesnakes. Now Rulon Clark and his team at San Diego State University ...

A squirrel's twitching tail isn't just a nervous habit; it's a sophisticated communication tool. This silent signal warns other squirrels of potential danger and establishes boundaries. When a ...

In a standoff with a rattlesnake, the California ground squirrel stares down its opponent. It might kick sand at the snake, whipping its fuzzy tail back and forth in a “come and get me” taunt. The ...

As a prime food source for many predators, Eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) must always be vigilant. Sometimes they even help each other out. A squirrel's long, bushy, grizzled, gray tail ...

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When ground squirrels wave their tails back and forth, it's apparently meant to send a message to rattlesnakes not to mess around with them — and a newly published study suggests that the snakes are ...

There are many intriguing facts about squirrels—some of which you likely have never even heard before. Squirrels are far more than just those cute creatures who wreak havoc in your garden or cause ...