A new 2024 study has uncovered something few thought possible: California ground squirrels have turned carnivorous.

📍 In Briones Regional Park near Oakland, researchers observed squirrels not just scavenging — but actively stalking, attacking, and killing voles, a small rodent species. Some were even seen decapitating their prey before eating it.

👀 Over just two months, scientists documented 74 squirrel–vole interactions, with nearly half resulting in a kill. Even more surprising? It wasn’t just a few rogue squirrels — males, females, and juveniles all participated in the hunts. Once researchers knew what to watch for, they were witnessing the behavior almost daily.

According to UC Davis behavioral ecologist Sonja Wild, this unexpected hunting may be a sign of dietary flexibility — a survival strategy in response to urban pressures and climate change.

🧬 It’s the first known case of widespread predatory behavior in this species. And it’s making scientists rethink what squirrels are truly capable of.