Red squirrels, socially distant by nature, teach us the value of good neighbours

By Erin Siracusa, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Behavioural Ecology, University of Exeter

In the far reaches of Canada’s North, there’s a different type of social distancing happening this year. Amid the lingering snowdrifts and bowed branches of spruce trees, a small mammal yells a ferocious “stay away!” call that can be heard more than 100 metres away.

These “rattle” calls are made by a species abundant in the boreal forest — the North American red squirrel — and send a clear message to other neighbouring squirrels: “This is my territory. Stay off.”

Despite being small in stature, red squirrels are known for their ferocity. Both males and females occupy individual…

Read complete article

~	What students protesting Israel’s Gaza siege want — and how their demands on divestment fit into the BDS movement

~	Nepal's Opportunity to Protect Children in New Budget

~	Tajikistan: Forcibly Disappeared Opponent Allegedly Tortured

~	UN rights chief urges Georgia to scrap ‘foreign influence’ bill

~	Despite a tenfold increase in ADHD prescriptions, too many New Zealanders are still going without

~	Meaningful engagement is the key to achieving Bill C-226’s goal of ending environmental racism in Canada

~	Season two of Heartbreak High makes diversity feel ‘banal’. This is its strength

~	Kate Millett pioneered the term ‘sexual politics’ and explained the links between sex and power. Her book changed my life

~	AI can now generate entire songs on demand. What does this mean for music as we know it?

~	Why is cancer called cancer? We need to go back to Greco-Roman times for the answer