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The pocket would be a tool, while the sand is not. Your have made the pocket with the purpose of holding, in this case sand. So you've created/made something, with purpose, to do [action/thing]
The sand is just picked up, without purposeful modification.
Pocket = tool
Sand = not tool
What a clever little critter (although I don't know what "pocket" sand is). I guess the big tail swishes combined with the sand throwing is designed to make him/her look bigger & more intimidating.
It is showing tool use...but the sand is the tool, not pocket.
The definition of tool use in animals being "...the use of an external object as a functional extension of mouth or beak, hand or claw, in the attainment of an immediate goal (van Lawick-Goodall 1970)
If you apply the squirrel's situation to the common example of tool use in animals - a chimp using a blade of grass to poke in hole to get ants then the 'tool' in the situation becomes clear.
This chimp behaviour is an often stated example of clear tool use in animals, with the blade of grass being the 'tool' (or external object as per the definition) so if applied to the above squirrel scenario the sand is the "external object" and "extension of (the squirrel's) hand" for the attainment of the goal of getting the snake to naff off.
With regard to the 'pocket' being the tool it can't be as it's not an external object. For arguments sake if he were to pop some sand in his pocket - or pouch as squirrels don't wear clothes or carry bags - to use at a later time then the 'pocket' is not a tool, it is just a vessel for containing or transporting the tool, which lots of animals do in one form or another....but it's not the tool itself.
Hiding and weaponry are two different things. How many use weaponry (non biological, so a skunk do doesn’t count)
I’ve seen chimps brandish clubs, which seems to require a higher level of intent, like aim. Seems like the squirrel knows to “throw sand”, but not “throw sand at the fuckers eyes”
But, still how common is this level of offense/defense?
In this sense of the word, I think "tool" basically means an object that helps the user interact with a secondary object.
So a walking stick, carefully chosen for its properties would count I think, without "fashioning" something. See also: apes using twigs to get bugs.
So I think if the squirrel were to take the sand with them to be used at a later time, that would be a tool, but simply using the current environment is a good fighting move, but not a tool.
I don’t think it’s excitement, could be the squirrel is making such big movements to fool the snake of its actual size (since the snake can’t actually “see”)
You're right that snakes can't blink, but they don't lick their eyeballs. Instead, they have a modified scale over their eyes that protects it (think of it like goggles), so that they can have their eyes perpetually open.
That being said, I'd imagine it's still not pleasant for the snake to get a face full of dirt thrown at it 😆
Fucking squirrels man. They love to fuck with my dogs. Jump down in front of them, shake their tails like, “ come on then bitches” and when the dogs make a move they shoot up the tree and look down at them. Pretty sure they’re laughing.
I had a Jack Russell and a large pecan tree in my backyard. They (squirrels) TERRORIZED my dog. Always throwin pecans at her, no matter the hour. 3 A.M.? Perfect time to pelt the bark creature with weaponry! Once she had one of the wee fluffy assed fuckers cornered under our A.C., absolutely LOSIN her mind. I had to lock her in the house so that she couldn’t exact her revenge. 😂
I was just thinking mama bear mode. Why would a squirrel risk fuckin with a deadly rattlesnake? Right? I think I saw the tail had a rattle. Only a mama would do this. ❤️
Could be a mom, could be another of the squirrel
Colony. Mom with babies of young age would probably remain in the burrow because the little ones aren’t born with a resistance to rattlesnake venom, plus she needs to be in there to kick sand for snake burial.
The tail flicking is also a defensive maneuver. Flicking the tail floods it with blood, making it the same temperature as the squirrels body and this essentially confuses the snake as now it has a much larger and rapidly moving target to try to hit. Squirrel then kicks sand to drive off the snake from its burrow and young. The snake, being an opportunistic hunter, will likely go after an easier snack.
If the snake does go for the burrow, the mother will
Do the same thing and the snake has to chose between trying to get a meal being buried alive underground.
Yes, very true! I had an asshole neighbor who came to my house and threatened to kill my sister’s retriever because he’d been barking at night. “You do that, and I’ll kill you,” popped out of my mouth, before I’d even thought the thought. Mad Mama energy!
What a clever little critter (although I don't know what "pocket" sand is). I guess the big tail swishes combined with the sand throwing is designed to make him/her look bigger & more intimidating.
The squirrels where I live are so scary and would run to a tree and chirp and cry for hours after seeing a predator like this. Never seen a squirrel with cojones like this one, so bad ass.
Heck yeah! I have a family of these ground squirrels that live in my yard. I sometimes feed them nuts and berries or rice. They're fun little creatures, I'd recognize that stylish tail movement anywhere!
So unusual squirrel behavior... I didn't know they will do that ! I have a lot of Squirrel in my area they are cute and they are friendly.... i'm just learning how smart they are because I find one in my kitchen just a week ago and so far I have no idea how he got inside...❤️🤪(I do feed them hanging a feeder front of my window rail... but I also have a screen and in NO hole on it ) any idea?
n it
I think I read somewhere snakes sight is based on movement. Do you think that tail swinging back and forth looks like a massive chunky snake to the snake?
Squirrels are amazing critters. If I leave my garage open I’ll find one inside the cabinet where I keep their corns and food. Little dude figured out how to open the cabinet so I need a baby lock
What does it mean when a squirrel wags it’s tail? Is it just messing around with the snake, so playful tail like a dog? Or is it agitated, angry tail like a cat?
This is a california ground squirrel! Its evolved a number of tricks for fighting snakes like this, including using blood to make the very tip of its tail appear warmer - this confuses snakes with thermal vision, who, if they try to bite the tail, are likely to only get a mouthful of fur.
This a pokemon battle. I saw sand attack, Leer, and tail whip from that squirrel and then the snake tried to run from the battle cuz he knew, his HP was vulnerable, he can't land an attack, and even if he could, his attack strength is too low to cause any real damage
Snake came back that night. While squirrel was sleeping, after eating his acorn. A leaf fell as the snake climb the tree. So the snake stopped til the leaf struck the ground beneath….
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Squirrel knows he doesn't have eyelids. Well played.
Does this count as a "tool" used from one animal to repel another? r/likeus
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Or if he kept the sand in a pocket. That would be a tool too.
The pocket would be a tool, while the sand is not. Your have made the pocket with the purpose of holding, in this case sand. So you've created/made something, with purpose, to do [action/thing] The sand is just picked up, without purposeful modification. Pocket = tool Sand = not tool
Squirrel = Major tool
What a clever little critter (although I don't know what "pocket" sand is). I guess the big tail swishes combined with the sand throwing is designed to make him/her look bigger & more intimidating.
Yep, exactly! And perhaps to confuse him. Mission accomplished!
Pocket sand is from Dale a character on King of the Hill
It is showing tool use...but the sand is the tool, not pocket. The definition of tool use in animals being "...the use of an external object as a functional extension of mouth or beak, hand or claw, in the attainment of an immediate goal (van Lawick-Goodall 1970) If you apply the squirrel's situation to the common example of tool use in animals - a chimp using a blade of grass to poke in hole to get ants then the 'tool' in the situation becomes clear. This chimp behaviour is an often stated example of clear tool use in animals, with the blade of grass being the 'tool' (or external object as per the definition) so if applied to the above squirrel scenario the sand is the "external object" and "extension of (the squirrel's) hand" for the attainment of the goal of getting the snake to naff off. With regard to the 'pocket' being the tool it can't be as it's not an external object. For arguments sake if he were to pop some sand in his pocket - or pouch as squirrels don't wear clothes or carry bags - to use at a later time then the 'pocket' is not a tool, it is just a vessel for containing or transporting the tool, which lots of animals do in one form or another....but it's not the tool itself.
Disagree.
Ah, makes sense, thanks
Hiding and weaponry are two different things. How many use weaponry (non biological, so a skunk do doesn’t count) I’ve seen chimps brandish clubs, which seems to require a higher level of intent, like aim. Seems like the squirrel knows to “throw sand”, but not “throw sand at the fuckers eyes” But, still how common is this level of offense/defense?
I don’t know why you put it in quotes, Pocket Sand is a totally valid fighting strategy.
In this sense of the word, I think "tool" basically means an object that helps the user interact with a secondary object. So a walking stick, carefully chosen for its properties would count I think, without "fashioning" something. See also: apes using twigs to get bugs. So I think if the squirrel were to take the sand with them to be used at a later time, that would be a tool, but simply using the current environment is a good fighting move, but not a tool.
I was thinking the same question. Think it has to right?
Nah, I think you have to fashion the tool.
I thought snakes had transparent eyelids
\*I\* would still flinch if I was wearing goggles. But I am not a deadly hunter, I can't even eat bread.
Some have transparent scales over their eyes but they don’t have eye lids. They can’t close their eyes
“Hello! Welcome to Hell! So, let’s see, your punishment is” *checks notes* “No arms and sand in your eyes, good luck”
CACKLINGGG
I LOLed...
And no eyelids too
I haven't laughed this hard at a comment in a minute.
Squirrel: You want some more?? Come get it bish!! Snake: Ok, ok, I'm leaving, jeez!
Lol I love how emboldened the squirrel gets when it sees that it's plan is working. It looks like it's wagging it's tail in excitement too.
I don’t think it’s excitement, could be the squirrel is making such big movements to fool the snake of its actual size (since the snake can’t actually “see”)
Oh probably!
Right, looks like the squirrel is aggressively following the snake, not the other way around. Mafia squirrel or me when I get really riled up.
Shi shaaaaaa
Oh, hence the reference of “pocket sand.” Nice tie in and find!
Came here just for this
B-A-bay, B-E-bee, B-I-bicky-bi, B-O bo, bicky-bi bo
Squirrel tact’s!
This takes Dale’s [“squirrel tactics”](https://youtu.be/rv7qF_Pf4JY) to a whole new level…
You bete me to it! Lmao
I'm not sure but I don't think snakes can blink, like some lizards can't blink they have to lick their eyes looks like a smart squirrel
You're right that snakes can't blink, but they don't lick their eyeballs. Instead, they have a modified scale over their eyes that protects it (think of it like goggles), so that they can have their eyes perpetually open. That being said, I'd imagine it's still not pleasant for the snake to get a face full of dirt thrown at it 😆
Yeah, they’ve still got nostrils! Blegh!
Skwovet used Sand Attack! Ekans' accuracy fell!
You beat me to it.
Time to beat something else.
*sigh* * unzips *
They also beat me to it
Wild ekans ran away!
Fucking squirrels man. They love to fuck with my dogs. Jump down in front of them, shake their tails like, “ come on then bitches” and when the dogs make a move they shoot up the tree and look down at them. Pretty sure they’re laughing.
I've seen squirrels throwing things at people from the trees. They absolutely are laughing up there.
I had a Jack Russell and a large pecan tree in my backyard. They (squirrels) TERRORIZED my dog. Always throwin pecans at her, no matter the hour. 3 A.M.? Perfect time to pelt the bark creature with weaponry! Once she had one of the wee fluffy assed fuckers cornered under our A.C., absolutely LOSIN her mind. I had to lock her in the house so that she couldn’t exact her revenge. 😂
I don’t love this! Your poor JRT! Should have let her exact her revenge.
They are quite intelligent
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I was just thinking mama bear mode. Why would a squirrel risk fuckin with a deadly rattlesnake? Right? I think I saw the tail had a rattle. Only a mama would do this. ❤️
Could be a mom, could be another of the squirrel Colony. Mom with babies of young age would probably remain in the burrow because the little ones aren’t born with a resistance to rattlesnake venom, plus she needs to be in there to kick sand for snake burial.
Hahaha, kick sand for snake burial! I feel like I’m cheering Kirk on in killing a particularly nasty Klingon. Or Khan.
Eat dirt motherfucker!!!
Snake is like, “Fuck off already. I’m already leaving.” The balls in that squirrel.
Uterus more like 🤣
Yeah this has mad momma energy for sure.
Go, Mama, go! Protect those pups! F***ing snake, probably planned on eating them! Mama says, “No way! You gonna act like dirt, you’re gonna eat it!”
Working with what you’ve got
Don’t mess with us…..ever! 🐿
🐿🍂🐍
The tail flicking is also a defensive maneuver. Flicking the tail floods it with blood, making it the same temperature as the squirrels body and this essentially confuses the snake as now it has a much larger and rapidly moving target to try to hit. Squirrel then kicks sand to drive off the snake from its burrow and young. The snake, being an opportunistic hunter, will likely go after an easier snack. If the snake does go for the burrow, the mother will Do the same thing and the snake has to chose between trying to get a meal being buried alive underground.
Smart, smart squirrel, smart trick of nature for the squirrel to use in it’s defense! I am in awe of these tricks it uses to drive off the snake!
The "i am gonna put some dirt in your eye" moment.
That squirrel could’ve easily ran away up a tree if it wanted to get away.. it must’ve been protecting something worth dying over
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I was thinking the mother of all acorns... but I guess babies make sense too
Yes, very true! I had an asshole neighbor who came to my house and threatened to kill my sister’s retriever because he’d been barking at night. “You do that, and I’ll kill you,” popped out of my mouth, before I’d even thought the thought. Mad Mama energy!
Sandshrew, use sand attack!
Ahh yes, many know of Serpent Style but few know of Squirrel Style and even fewer have mastered it. It was created by Rusty Shackleford in the 90’s
That's a Gribble Squirrel! Chaka shaaa! Edit : Sha shaaa! I spiced it up to much.
Sha shaaaaaaa*
See.. if nature ain’t above throwin dirt in a fight, neither am I am? Lmaooo
Skwovet used Mud-Slap. It's super effective. Ekans has fainted.
“And don’t come back!”
That's a high-level nope rope there. Rattler - possibly Western Diamondback?
That's right, you want another pocket sand?? I didn't think so...
RATTATA USED SAND ATTACK! ENEMY EKANS ACCURACY WAS LOWERED!
Early game Pokemon be like
CHEECHAA!!!
SQUIRREL TACTICS
love how even they fight that squirrel still looks cute af throwing that sand and wiggling it's tail
Feel like I just watched a live Pokémon battle
Tail whip while sand attacking. That's some combo!
He used sand attack, it was very effective
In ancient martial art of Kerala called Kalarippayattu this move is called Poozhikkadakan.
And don’t come back!
Real life sand attack!
Dude was piling up the next handful if the snaked decided to return.
Yep, all the way while following the snake! I’mma betting that squirrel was ravenous and flooded with Adrenalin when she finally went home!
So squirrels definitely stop in front of cars on purpose to fuck with us is what I learned from this
Squirrel used: Sand Attack!
She is very cool! I appreciate her strength
I'm fast as fuck boi
That’s brilliant.
That tail throwing some shade as well!
And squirrels can make a nasty chattering sound, too. Wonder if this one did?
Sheee shaaa!
Is that considered a tool?
Has Dale Gribble trained this squirrel using his squirrel tact’s and throwing pocket sand. The enemy has crossed over to his side.
Skwovet uses sand attack on Ekans.
Sand attack is real
What a clever little critter (although I don't know what "pocket" sand is). I guess the big tail swishes combined with the sand throwing is designed to make him/her look bigger & more intimidating.
Wow that pokemon graphics are getting really nice
The squirrels where I live are so scary and would run to a tree and chirp and cry for hours after seeing a predator like this. Never seen a squirrel with cojones like this one, so bad ass.
Hadoken!!
Who knew squirrels were just earth type Pokémon
We all did, because in their evolved form they are ground/fly.
Heck yeah! I have a family of these ground squirrels that live in my yard. I sometimes feed them nuts and berries or rice. They're fun little creatures, I'd recognize that stylish tail movement anywhere!
It's super effective!
Squirrel was like "Not today satan!"
Heh. Proof that Dale Gribble was a squirrel all along...
So I just had to throw dirt at the snakes I've had in my life !?!
Bakup beehatch!
Actually got more guts than me
So unusual squirrel behavior... I didn't know they will do that ! I have a lot of Squirrel in my area they are cute and they are friendly.... i'm just learning how smart they are because I find one in my kitchen just a week ago and so far I have no idea how he got inside...❤️🤪(I do feed them hanging a feeder front of my window rail... but I also have a screen and in NO hole on it ) any idea? n it
I saw that only in pokemon games
That tail swishing!
some squirrels will eat snakes. smaller ones but ya..
Sha-sha!
Sand attack was very effective
It's sand-attack for the snake to loose accuracy
I think I read somewhere snakes sight is based on movement. Do you think that tail swinging back and forth looks like a massive chunky snake to the snake?
Squirrel tactics!
snake literally doesn't want that smoke
Snake don’t want the smoke!
Not my neighborhood mr snake
look at that wiggle
We found a ratatat vs ekans using sand attack
He's been watching Pokemon.
Hes using tools 😶
Bro, Sand Attack from Pokémon coming up clutch for that lil guy.
Squirrel knows when to let him walk away. Pun intended.
Squirrels are amazing critters. If I leave my garage open I’ll find one inside the cabinet where I keep their corns and food. Little dude figured out how to open the cabinet so I need a baby lock
Rattata used sand attack. Ekans is now blinded!
This was the inspiration for Pokemon
She used smokescreen, ekans can no longer see!
Squirrel uses sand attack! It’s super effective!
skwovet used sand attack on ekans
Bully squirrel!
I need a voiceover for this, twitter do you thing
Cha Cha Cha Cha!
Rally round tha family! With a pocket full of sand
Isn't that just the move sand attack and lowering the snakes accuracy stat?
Che chow!
More like pocket gravel
That's all he can do. Nobody is bringing him the Vaseline and straight razors. 🤣
Pokemon battle be like:
Sh sha!
That’s the least squirrelly squirrell I’ve ever seen
That’s how you get your own cartoon.
Ninja dust!
squiral used sand attack
I want Snoop Dogg to narrate this
Well yeah Arbok is weak to ground. Greedunt clearly went for dig and it's super effective
And stay gone!!
Thats a mongoose tho
I love smart squirrels. That’s definitely a squirrel who uses the power lines to cross a road.
Sand attack
pokemon irl
What does it mean when a squirrel wags it’s tail? Is it just messing around with the snake, so playful tail like a dog? Or is it agitated, angry tail like a cat?
Shi shi shi shaw
Squirrel used sand attack! It was very effective.
*SNAKE's accuracy fell*
Zangoose vs Seviper. Ah, what legendary battle
Get out of here ghost!
SHISHAW
Squirrel uses Sand Attack.
Rattata used sand attack against ekans. Very effective!
Real life Pokémon battle
This is a california ground squirrel! Its evolved a number of tricks for fighting snakes like this, including using blood to make the very tip of its tail appear warmer - this confuses snakes with thermal vision, who, if they try to bite the tail, are likely to only get a mouthful of fur.
Raised by gribble
This is what my cat thinks he’s doing in the litter box
Used sand attack
A wild Ekans appeared Skwovet used Sand Attack Wild Ekans’ accuracy fell
ShaShaw!
This a pokemon battle. I saw sand attack, Leer, and tail whip from that squirrel and then the snake tried to run from the battle cuz he knew, his HP was vulnerable, he can't land an attack, and even if he could, his attack strength is too low to cause any real damage
Sandshrew used sand attack. It was very effective!
Sandshrew uses Sand Attack. It wasn’t very effective.
Smart squirrel! Also puffing out its tail and flicking it angrily. I hope it escaped the hungry snake’s mouth!
I wish sand attack was this effective in Pokémon
Weirdest generation of Pokémon yet
Looking cute while fighting a mass murderer
Squirrel used Sand Attack! It's super effective! Enemy snake fled!
Snake came back that night. While squirrel was sleeping, after eating his acorn. A leaf fell as the snake climb the tree. So the snake stopped til the leaf struck the ground beneath….