California Ground Squirrels Exhibit Unprecedented Carnivorous Behavior

Scientists document ground squirrels hunting and eating voles in a surprising adaptation linked to a local prey population surge.

Researchers observed California ground squirrels actively hunting, killing, and consuming voles at Briones Regional Park in Contra Costa County, marking a dramatic behavioral shift for the traditionally herbivorous species.
The behavior was documented during a seven-week study in 2024, coinciding with an unprecedented vole population boom in the area, which researchers believe triggered this opportunistic adaptation.
Squirrels employed varied hunting techniques, including high-speed chases and stealthy stalking, with a 55% success rate, and displayed methodical consumption patterns resembling seasoned predators.
The study found the behavior to be widespread across the squirrel population, with individuals of all ages and sexes participating, challenging previous assumptions about their dietary inflexibility.
Scientists are exploring whether this adaptation will persist, be passed to future generations, or reoccur in other populations, as well as its potential ecological impacts on local food webs.