Rattlesnakes scared off by infra-red squirrels

TASTY YOUNG squirrels are a treat for rattlesnakes, but boffins in California have discovered that adult squirrels protect them by heating up their tails and waving them in the reptiles' faces in a bid to appear much larger.

Some snakes have infrared sensors to allow them to detect small mammals and change TV channels. To fool them, adult squirrels increase the blood flow to their tails before fluffing them up and wiggling them, reports New Scientist.

A student at the University of California borrowed a $35,000 infrared camera and filmed a number of snake / squirrel grudge matches to test his theory. He then tried a robot squirrel complete with hot tail and the scaredy snakes slithered off.

Precisely how one goes about purchasing a robot squirrel with optional tail heater is not made clear. µ

L'Inq
New Scientist