Why do squirrels want to smell like rattlesnakes?
California ground squirrels rub chewed-up rattlesnake skin on their fur to mask their scent.
This behavior is called olfactory camouflage. By smelling like a rattlesnake, the squirrels trick predators into thinking they are venomous snakes. This clever disguise even deters actual rattlesnakes from attacking, as they often avoid their own kind to prevent territorial fights.
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Research conducted by Dr. Barbara Clucas and her team at the University of California, Davis, first detailed this fascinating behavior in a 2008 study published in the journal Animal Behaviour. The study observed that California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus beecheyi) find shed rattlesnake skins, chew them, and then lick their own fur to apply the scent. This process is specifically known as snake-scent application and is a form of chemical defense.The primary goal of this behavior is to fool the rattlesnake's highly sensitive vomeronasal organ, which the snake uses to 'smell' or sense its environment. By masking their natural squirrel odor with the scent of a predator, the squirrels effectively become invisible to the snakes in the dark or inside burrows. This is particularly vital for protecting vulnerable pups that cannot yet defend themselves against predators.Further experiments showed that rattlesnakes spent significantly less time investigating areas or squirrels that smelled like snake skin compared to those with a natural squirrel scent. This suggests the snakes perceive the scent as a potential competitor or a larger, dangerous snake rather than a meal. This evolution of 'olfactory camouflage' highlights the complex arms race between predators and prey in the California ecosystem.
Verified Fact
FP-0002048 · Feb 16, 2026