❓ why
Why do squirrels bury nuts?
animalsbehaviourforests
Quick Answer
Squirrels bury nuts to store food for winter. Many buried nuts are never recovered, which helps new trees grow.
The Full Story
Tree squirrels such as the eastern grey squirrel are 'scatter hoarders': instead of keeping food in one place, they bury nuts one at a time in many different spots. This spreads the risk, so a thief can't steal the whole supply. Squirrels relocate their caches using spatial memory and smell, and experiments show they remember many specific locations. They also sometimes pretend to bury a nut to fool watching rivals. Nuts that are never dug up can sprout, making squirrels important planters of oak, hickory and walnut trees.
Key Facts
1.Grey squirrels bury nuts individually in many separate caches, a strategy called scatter hoarding.
2.Squirrels may perform 'deceptive caching', faking a burial when watched.
3.Forgotten acorns help regenerate oak forests.
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The forgetful gardener: how squirrels accidentally plant forests."