How Many Locations Can a Squirrel Remember? 
Squirrels can learn to recall as many as 9,000 locations. They can remember their favorite locations because of their appearance. This means that other squirrels can learn to recognize the same location. It’s amazing how far a squirrel’s memory can stretch. This is one of the most intriguing mysteries of the animal kingdom. This article will give you the scoop on this fascinating animal. Read on to learn more about the different ways that squirrels memorize locations.
fox squirrels can remember burial locations of as many as 9,000 nuts
Unlike other squirrel species, foxes can remember where they buried as many as 9,000 nuts. This ability largely reflects their superior short-term memory. This memory is most likely aided by the way foxes shake their heads to determine the quality of a nut and store it for future use. While researchers have yet to uncover the exact reason why foxes can remember the burial locations of so many nuts, the findings are impressive.
Red squirrels have a dentate gyrus
Scientists from the University of Exeter tested how many locations a gray squirrel can remember by asking them to solve a tricky puzzle. They asked the squirrels to press levers to receive a nut, and they found that the first time they tried to solve the puzzle, they took eight seconds. But after practicing it two years later, they figured it out in just two seconds. These findings suggest that long-term memory plays an important role in squirrel learning.
Grey squirrels have a dentate gyrus
Researchers have found that Grey squirrels have a dentate granule in their hippocampal region and can remember the location of buried nuts. This study, published in the journal Genes, Brain and Behavior, found that grey squirrels have three times more proliferating neurons than normal in their dentate gyrus. This area is important because it represents one of the few areas of the brain where neurogenesis occurs.
Grey squirrels evade caching when other squirrels are watching
In recent research, scientists have found that when gray squirrels sense that other squirrels are watching them, they evade caches more often and spend longer disguising them. The findings also show that the squirrels may make fake caches to frighten off potential pilferers. The researchers from the University of Exeter found that the Greys evade caches by hiding them behind rocks, trees, or even in the ground.
Red squirrels have a sharp nose
If you are wondering how red squirrels remember locations, consider this: they have an extremely sharp sense of smell. Using their keen nose and memory, they can recall where they have been in the past. Apparently, they can also remember locations of things they have seen in the past. Researchers at the University of Michigan say that red squirrels can remember locations of things they have seen a hundred times. Their sharp sense of smell is so good that it is similar to that of a human, and they can recall location even if it isn’t familiar to them.
Grey squirrels navigate mazes
How do Grey squirrels navigate mazes? BBC Earth Unplugged’s latest documentary explores how squirrels are able to remember how to complete a maze and become more efficient at it each time they attempt it. To see the video, visit the BBC’s website and search for the program. Then, watch it to see how it all works. And don’t forget to subscribe to BBC Earth Unplugged!
Grey squirrels recognize people
Scientists have long pondered whether grey squirrels recognize people and locations. The lack of a behavioural response in this animal has been a persistent question. Researchers have uncovered that these creatures use cues from conspecifics and heterospecifics to determine whether a person or location is a threat. One such study was conducted by Zou et al. and found that a squirrel’s body language and posture indicates that it is potentially a threat to a person or location.
How many different locations can a squirrel remember?
A squirrel can remember the location of up to 10 different trees.
How long can a squirrel remember the location of a tree?
A squirrel can remember the location of a tree for up to three weeks.
How many different types of food can a squirrel remember the location of?
A squirrel can remember the location of up to five different types of food.
How long can a squirrel remember the location of a food source?
A squirrel can remember the location of a food source for up to two weeks.
How many different places can a squirrel hide its food?
A squirrel can hide its food in up to 10 different places.
How long can a squirrel remember the location of a hiding place?
A squirrel can remember the location of a hiding place for up to six months.
How many different sounds can a squirrel remember?
A squirrel can remember up to 10 different sounds.
How long can a squirrel remember a sound?
A squirrel can remember a sound for up to two weeks.
How many different places can a squirrel mark with its scent?
A squirrel can mark up to 15 different places with its scent.
How long can a squirrel remember the location of a place it has marked with its scent?
A squirrel can remember the location of a place it has marked with its scent for up to two weeks.
How many different routes can a squirrel remember to a place?
A squirrel can remember up to four different routes to a place.
How long can a squirrel remember a route to a place?
A squirrel can remember a route to a place for up to two weeks.
How many different objects can a squirrel remember?
A squirrel can remember up to 30 different objects.
How long can a squirrel remember an object?
A squirrel can remember an object for up to six months.
How many different predators can a squirrel remember?
A squirrel can remember up to 10 different predators.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
