SEEING RED - AGAIN
UPDATE 08-15-2007

Patriots, when we checked the headlines on August 08, we were surprised to see a feature on skwerls vs. snakes that was first pulished in 2004 (see our coverage below).

The feature covers a scientific study performed by graduate student Aaron Rundus at the University of California, Davis.

The Rundus study describes how California dirt nutzys raise the temperature of their bushy tails to warn rattlesnakes to back off or else. Rattlesnakes use infrared sensors in their noses to locate prey and to sense danger. Rundus particularly noted that the skwerlballs do not heat their tails when confronting gopher snakes because they do not have infrared "pit organs" in their nose.

The current press reports really don't reveal anything new from the Rundus study. However, we did obtain a short video showing the infrared difference between a skwerlien encounter with a rattlesnake and a gopher snake.

We also did a quick search of the video dumps (YouTube, etc.) and came up with an excellent example of a ground squirrel confronting a snake.

And just for fun, we've included an old clip from the archive of a newsman attacked by a vicious chitterbox as he examines a cute snake.

So, we invite you take a gander at the video evidence of chitterbox aggression against snakes and then read our 2004 feature to learn the horrific truth that the media isn't telling you about the Rundus study...

CLICK SCREENSHOTS TO VIEW CLIPS

OUR ORIGINAL 2004 FEATURE:

Patriots, pathetic skwerlhuggers live in a delusional world where skwerls are innocent little balls of love-fluff; harmless and defenseless. For the most part, mainstream media encourages this characterization even when the obvious threat of squirrel world domination is laid bare before it. Consider the following news brief...

Squirrels use infrared against snakes
Heated tail display warns off would-be predators.

Faced with an angry rattlesnake, you or I might freeze with fear. But California ground squirrels take the opposite approach: they heat their tails up to warn the snake that they will not take an attack lying down.

It is the first time that an animal has been shown to send a deliberate signal using infrared radiation, or heat, says Aaron Rundus of the University of California, Davis, who presented the discovery on Monday at the Animal Behavior Society's annual meeting in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Rattlesnakes are a constant menace to the squirrels, often poaching young from families. This threat gives rise to aggressive stand-offs between snakes and adult squirrels, in which the rodent kicks sand and brandishes its tail in a bid to harass the predator into submission (Click California g-skwerl for comment).

The snakes do much of their hunting by detecting heat, using sensitive structures called pit organs in their faces. The new discovery shows that the squirrels take advantage of this sensitivity by broadcasting their message in a language the snakes can understand.

Getting warmer

Rundus placed wild-caught squirrels in a cage with a rattlesnake and filmed the resulting show-down using an infrared camera. As the squirrel whipped its tail threateningly back and forth, the appendage grew warmer.

The squirrels achieve the effect by making their tail fur stand on end to expose more skin, and perhaps by dilating blood vessels near the tail's surface, Rundus told the meeting. Furthermore, the squirrels' tails did not heat up when caged with a gopher snake, a predator that lacks pit organs. This shows that the squirrels can recognize different predators and respond accordingly.

Roll on robo-squirrel

The heat signal could function to distract the snake's attention from vulnerable young, Rundus suggests, or simply as an indicator of the adult's presence. However, the squirrels are not entirely gung-ho; although rattlesnakes rarely eat adults, a fight could easily lead to death or serious injury (click photo for skwerl-snake comment).

Rundus wants to manipulate the effect to see whether snakes respond differently to non-heated squirrels. But this is not as easy as it sounds. "I tried everything: insulation, even injections," Rundus recalls. "But it's hard not to affect the behaviour as well."

To this end, he has designed 'robo-squirrel', a stuffed squirrel with a heating element in its tail. "It's nearly ready to go," he says. "We'll just have to see if we get good data."

Source: News@nature.com - published online: 16 June 2004 - Michael Hopkin reporting
Photo credits: Calif. ground squirrel by scary squirrel world; snake-skwerl fight by John A. L. Cooke

Patriots, it's all well and good that a super-intelligent scientist figured out that skwerls get hot-n-bothered when a snake comes round. But how is it that the media devotes only two lines to the real story here... the creation of a robotic skwerlball?

Clearly, the Rundus experiment is yet another thinly disguised project funded by the bushytail horde to create a robotic superskwerl - and note that we say another, for just a few short years ago agents of skwerlhuggery placed a prototype robo-skwerl with breakfast cereal giant General Mills.

You may recall that the General Mills robo-skwerl was featured in commercials breaking into homes to purloin Honey Nut Clusters cereal from terrified victims. The robotic nutzy disappeared after making several commercials. Rumor has it that he was electrocuted during a fight with a gaffer...

But that's not important. What is important is that Mr. Rundus is about to unleash another mechanized skwerlien upon an unsuspecting world.

If he succeeds, how long before the bushytail horde creates legions of robo-skwerls for one purpose and one purpose only: to destroy civilization and shackle the survivors to the yoke of squirrel world domination...?

READER COMMENTS...

ahahahahahahahahahahahahah...... whups fell over

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I have been telling people that squirrels were one day going to take over the world, but they all laughed and told me i was stupid. Now they shall know that i was right and that we must react quickly or we'll all be killed. The squirrel leaders are located in brevard north carolina and are very distinct because they have pure white furr.

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That squirrel has some issues that it needs to figure out if you know what I mean. It should find a mate and then leave the snakes for me.

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I think that I don't want to mess with the squirrels any more they might attack me or something. I am sorry for the squirrel it must of had a bad child hood. Put it to sleep then it will have no more suffering

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this web sight is crazy lol

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Your demented whats wrong with you!!!!!!!!

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that was funny ang cool ,.,.,.,.,. but not the snake part

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cool squirl, needs fangs

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What about the Chipmunks for it is there goal to take over the world and there is a massive war approaching the chipmunks are the only thing that can stop them

Ed. note: chippys are indeed a threat

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squirrels will not take over the world, spongemonkeys will if any scary thing ever does take over the world!!! RUN!!!!

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This is my biggest fear and it is true. There were two squirrels planning something in front of my house. Beware, the squirrels are creating armies!!!!!!

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One time I saw this squirrel in my yard, so you know what I did? I shot him right in his freakin' face. As I celebrated my kill with a Swisher Sweet, he arose like a condor from its ashes. Stunned, I ran my cellar and proceeded to sweat profusely. Turns out the squirrel was a robot!! Wow, what a relief!

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nowayhozay

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This Squirrels are cute and amazing. Because they can do lots of great stufs and i wish that i can get it as my pet

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seriously you guys, i am so scared i just crapped my pants. i need a bunker.

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you will be a-skwerl-immated, resistance is futile

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DO IT! Finish this project so we can learn more about the cute little squirrelies!

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Absolutly hilarous

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yall are some messed up peple

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Where can I get some of these robo-skwerls? This year my furry friends are being stalked by unknown beasts. We need protection before any more of my friends are destroyed.

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ok this is like so weird.........

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sometimes a skwerl will get lax lose focus and then and only then a snake will have skwerl for dinner

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That's hilarious! I wonder how many people read this and think it is all true? This is a great website.

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if we burn down the world and destroy our own atmosphere they will not like our world and call off the invasion

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ahhhhh... i find this website funny...hehehe, my friend and i lurve it! from alex and Natasha

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Muito bacana esta pgina. Adorei o esquilo com a armadura.

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ALL SHALL FEAR THEIR SQUIRRELLY WRATH!

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I think Squirrels are just attacking because the are afriad of us. They are defending themselves. So i think whoever decided to make thins site is crazy and needs to recheck his facts because there is nothing wrong with Squirrels, and believeing they are evil, or about to take over the world, is nonsence.

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