Have you ever seen a squirrel digging a hole, dropping a nut inside, and then running away? Squirrels and many other animals do this to save food for later when it’s harder to find. Meanwhile, I often misplace my keys at home without even burying them! So, how do squirrels remember where they hide all those nuts?
For a long time, people thought squirrels found their hidden food mostly by using their sense of smell and a bit of luck. But scientists discovered something surprising. When grey squirrels were given food, they buried it right away, which is normal for them. Later, when they went to find their food, each squirrel went back to its own hiding spot, even though other squirrels had also buried food nearby. This shows that squirrels have a special kind of memory, similar to how we remember things that happened at certain places and times. They can even create a mental map of their surroundings to help them plan for the future.
Interestingly, squirrels don’t remember all their hiding spots, which is actually good for young trees because forgotten nuts can grow into new trees. But squirrels are not just lucky. Like smart investors, they spend extra time hiding food that is more valuable or hard to find. They know there are thieves around, so they sometimes dig fake holes to trick potential thieves—and sometimes, they even fool scientists!
Western scrub jays, a type of bird, have an even smarter way to protect their food. If they know they’re being watched, they will re-bury their food as soon as the thieves leave. People used to think that only humans and some apes could plan for the future like this. But squirrels and some birds have shown that they can do it too!
Nature is full of amazing surprises, and there’s always something new to learn. Keep exploring and asking questions about the world around you!
Design a memory game where you hide small objects around the classroom or playground. Your task is to remember where each item is hidden and retrieve them after a set time. This will help you understand how squirrels use their memory to find their nuts.
Draw a map of your classroom or backyard, marking where you would hide food if you were a squirrel. This activity will help you think like a squirrel and understand how they create mental maps to locate their stashes.
In this game, some of you will be squirrels hiding “nuts” (small objects), while others will be thieves trying to find them. This will help you learn about the strategies squirrels use to protect their food from being stolen.
Choose an animal that stores food for later, like squirrels or birds, and research how they do it. Present your findings to the class, explaining the similarities and differences in their methods. This will deepen your understanding of animal behavior.
Find a nut or seed and plant it in a small pot. Take care of it and observe how it grows over time. This activity will help you appreciate how forgotten squirrel stashes can lead to new trees and contribute to the environment.
Have you ever watched a squirrel nervously dig a hole, drop a nut inside, and then scurry off? It’s common behavior among squirrels and other animals to gather food when it’s plentiful and store it away for times when it’s not. Meanwhile, I often lose my keys inside my own house without even having to bury them first. Do squirrels really remember where they bury all those nuts?
For a long time, people believed that squirrels found their stored food, whether it was buried by them or another squirrel, primarily through their sense of smell and a bit of luck. However, researchers discovered something surprising. When grey squirrels were given food, they promptly buried it, as is typical for squirrels. Later, when the squirrels went looking for their food, each one preferentially returned to its own stash, even though other squirrels had buried food nearby during the same experiment. This indicates that squirrels aren’t just lucky; they’ve developed a type of episodic memory, similar to the kind we use to recall events that occurred at specific places and times. They can even create a mental map of their environment and use it to plan for the future.
Interestingly, squirrels don’t remember the location of all their stashes, which is beneficial for young trees, but it certainly goes beyond mere luck. Like any good investor, squirrels take extra time and care to hide food that is more valuable or scarce. They are also aware that there are thieves in the world, so they sometimes dig decoy holes to mislead potential burglars—and occasionally, it works on scientists too.
Western scrub jays have an even more impressive strategy to outsmart potential thieves. When they know they’re being watched, they will re-bury their food as soon as the thieves fly away. It was once thought that this kind of mental time travel—the ability to take actions today for future needs—was limited to humans and higher apes. However, squirrels and even some birds seem to have challenged that notion.
Stay curious!
Squirrels – Small mammals with bushy tails that often live in trees and are known for gathering and storing food. – Squirrels are often seen in parks, collecting acorns and other seeds to store for the winter.
Memory – The ability to remember information, experiences, and people. – A squirrel’s memory helps it remember where it buried its nuts.
Food – Any nutritious substance that living organisms eat or absorb to maintain life and growth. – Birds and squirrels often compete for food in the forest.
Hiding – The act of concealing something or oneself from view. – Squirrels are experts at hiding their food to keep it safe from other animals.
Trees – Large plants with a trunk, branches, and leaves, providing habitat and food for many animals. – Squirrels build their nests high up in trees to stay safe from predators.
Nuts – Hard-shelled fruits of some plants, which are often a food source for animals like squirrels. – Squirrels gather nuts in the fall to prepare for the winter months.
Birds – Warm-blooded animals with feathers, wings, and beaks, many of which can fly. – Birds often share the trees with squirrels, each finding their own food and shelter.
Tricks – Clever actions or strategies used to achieve a goal or deceive others. – Squirrels use clever tricks to distract other animals while they hide their food.
Future – The time that is yet to come, often considered when planning or preparing. – Squirrels gather and store food to ensure they have enough to eat in the future.
Nature – The natural world, including plants, animals, and landscapes, not made by humans. – Exploring nature can teach us a lot about how animals like squirrels survive and thrive.
