The Squirrels Fight Back
It has been discovered that the California Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi,) has found out a way to avoid death by a certain predator. The Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, common in the West Coast, has hunted squirrels for over 3 thousand years, by biting them while scavenging for nuts, breastfeeding, or coming out of their holes. A branch of evolution has opened a new way for squirrels to survive this constant threat lurking over them. Blood samples from over 20 californian ground squirrels were taken to a lab. The blood samples were taken directly from the heart to make them the most acurrate possible.
The samples were taken from squirrels at different levels of growth. Some taken from babies, some from younglings, and some from grown adults. The blood plasma was separated into 19 parts, and pieces 2,6,4 and 17 showed way less activity than the others, 2 being completely inactive against a venom capable of killing a grown human adult. It was revealed that somehow, their blood had evolved to resist the venom, neutralizing it completely, but the baby squirrels didn`t yet have this ability, the had to grow it. To prove this, a squirrel was put in a stressful situation. She was in her burrow, she had 3 babies inside, two rattlesnakes outside, and only one way out. She had to transfer her babies to a new burrow to save them and she was bit several times, one in the neck, another one in the back, and another one in the stomach. Yet, she showed no response. It seems like the California Ground Squirrel has finally discovered a way to cheat death, assurring the survival of it`s species.
Key:
Thing 1, Thing 2, Thing 3. = Items in a Series
The samples were taken from squirrels at different levels of growth. Some taken from babies, some from younglings, and some from grown adults. The blood plasma was separated into 19 parts, and pieces 2,6,4 and 17 showed way less activity than the others, 2 being completely inactive against a venom capable of killing a grown human adult. It was revealed that somehow, their blood had evolved to resist the venom, neutralizing it completely, but the baby squirrels didn`t yet have this ability, the had to grow it. To prove this, a squirrel was put in a stressful situation. She was in her burrow, she had 3 babies inside, two rattlesnakes outside, and only one way out. She had to transfer her babies to a new burrow to save them and she was bit several times, one in the neck, another one in the back, and another one in the stomach. Yet, she showed no response. It seems like the California Ground Squirrel has finally discovered a way to cheat death, assurring the survival of it`s species.
Key:
Thing 1, Thing 2, Thing 3. = Items in a Series