Yep, there’s a whole one-hour PBS show on sciurids, “A Squirrel’s Guide to Success” (including chipmunks and other relatives) on PBS tonight. Go here to see when it’s playing in your area. It’s also available here after it airs.
To whet your appetite, here’s an excerpt demonstrating squirrel intelligence:
h/t: Tom
Already set to record. Squirrels are such fascinating creatures. One of the smartest creatures for their size. Have they been given the position of honorary cats? They have my vote.
I think I have seen squirrels described as honorary cats on WEIT.
Usually followed by NOVA; tonight’s show on the Thai cave rescue should be interesting, especially to cavers and divers (more so to cave divers).
For those who might miss it, you can always watch Nature online at pbs.com. Not sure how long it is between the program airing and its availability online. Also, all three episodes of Supercats are available now.
Oh thank you! I just saw this post…5 days late😕 I’ll be looking it up now!
This is a repackage of the BBC’s “Natural World: Super Squirrels” from mid-2018 & jolly good too! Anybody who can’t see the PBS version can see the original on Daily Motion HERE ~ narrated by Olivia Colman.
Squirrels on PBS, with Bill Moyers
Bill Moyers: Mr. Squirrel, why should the American people support your agenda?
Mr. Squirrels: Well, Bill, first let me say how great it is to be here. My agenda is simple: more nuts. Every American should have access to tasty nuts. Peanuts, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, cashew, pecans, chestn-
BM: Mr. Squirrels, if I may — Many Americans have expressed concern that you’re running on an agenda that consists solely of ensuring Americans have lots of nuts to eat.
MS: That’s preposterous. I also want to protect them from cats and create federal noise pollution laws.
BM: But isn’t it true that those laws would apply only to barking dogs, and only to, and I quote, “big scary ones that chase us”?
MS: Listen, Bill — May I call you Bill?
BM: Sure.
MS: Listen, Bill. I just want what’s best for the American people. Americans these days are scared, and they have every right to be. Winter will be here soon. We don’t even have a Strategic Nut Reserve. Cats and dogs terrorize us. We need a plan to —
BM: Make sure Americans have enough nuts and are protected from cats and dogs?
MS: That’s right, Bill.
BM: Well, that’s all the time we have for today. Thank you, Mr. Squirrels, for coming on the program.
It was a great program! Lots of new (to me anyway) information about squirrel anatomy and behavior. Amazing that fox squirrel brains expand and shrink based on need to create a mental map of their nut caches!
Yes, it was a good show. That squirrel brains expand and contract shows us how expensive a brain is to its host. If our lives were more seasonal, we’d probably share that feature with the squirrels.
In some humans we have vestigial brain shrinkage with broken switches – stuck in the dense mode: I present the DEBUTANTES whose season of balls is just beginning
“Season of balls” is not a phrase I expected to read this morning. It is causing my brain to shrink in amusement.
I was wondering when you would mention Squirrels again ,do you still feed them on your window sill?