Are Squirrels Great Problem Solvers?

If you pay close attention to a squirrel as it scurries about in your yard, you’ll definitely wonder what’s happening inside its mind. Their movements seem calculated like they’re on a mission. It is these behaviors that make squirrel control difficult for Milwaukee property owners.  Grey squirrels, in particular, seem quite smart to observers who watch as they hide numerous nuts in multiple spots and get this… return to retrieve them! How does that squirrel remember all those hiding places? Read on to answer that question. There is still much to learn about intelligence among wildlife citizens but as far as squirrels are concerned-the verdict is in…squirrels are amazingly smart! How did scientists arrive at this conclusion? You may ask. Well, they put a set of squirrels in a situation that tested their memory and shrewdness… and the squirrels aced the test!

The Research and its Results

Five grey squirrels were observed for the study. The squirrels were exposed to a situation requiring them to carry out certain actions (such as targeting a specific location and tearing away a paper barrier and pressing a lever) in order to access food (acorn). The squirrels wowed the scientists by remembering the strategies they used up to 22 months before and using them in the new situation. Scientists at the University of Exeter explored the intelligence of grey squirrels. The researchers found that squirrels are able to recollect solutions to problems up to two years after encountering them. This is an indicator that the furry foragers have remarkable long term memories. Scientists believe that this high level of intelligence has helped squirrels survive in urban settings like those found in Milwaukee. These responses of these five squirrels proved that the animals are quite adaptable and as such are able to adjust their actions to suit new environments and solve new problems so that they can access food.

How Squirrel Intelligence Affects Milwaukee Home Owners

How does this squirrel intelligence affect you as a homeowner? Well in many ways, all of which ultimately lead to squirrel intrusion being difficult to control or eliminate. Take your birdfeeder for instance. The study revealed why squirrels just always seem to find their way into your birdfeeder, even when you’ve just got the latest squirrel-proof design. The squirrels appear to be able to not only remember the methods that got them access to your previous bird feeder but also apply them to the new design.

What Does This All Mean for Milwaukee Homeowners?

For one, it means that you can’t recycle your squirrel deterrent strategies, since chances are, they’ll remember how to overcome them. It also explains why when squirrels get inside your home, they are so tricky to remove.  It also means that once a squirrel has found its way inside your home (or outdoor space), it is likely to remember and return and its intelligence level will help it to find a new way in. Many attempts to control or prevent squirrel intrusion fail because people fail to acknowledge the intelligence of the animals. In other words, the underestimate of how smart squirrels really are.  This results in the use of inefficient squirrel deterrents and removal strategies. But things can also get worse as injury to people and animals can result from these uninformed attempts at squirrel control.

Why Expert Squirrel Control is Important

To fully triumph over your squirrel problems, you need a team of professional, expert wildlife technicians who are specially prepared to deal with squirrels. That’s precisely what Skedaddle offers. Skedaddle’s wildlife technicians are trained to recognize and circumvent squirrel intelligence and specially equipped to provide you with the best and safest squirrel control services for your Milwaukee property.