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Tree squirrels use a mnemonic technique called 'spatial chunking' to sort out and bury their nut scores by size, type, and perhaps nutritional value and taste. Tobias Svens_n/EyeEm/Getty Images
Despite how common North American tree squirrels are in many cities, neighborhoods and outdoor spaces, a number of misconceptions exist about these little critters.
One is that the Eastern gray squirrel, Eastern fox squirrel, and Northern or Southern flying squirrels hibernate during the winter. They do not. (However, most ground squirrels — like the California ground squirrel — do take a long snooze during the colder months.)
Place chicken breasts in the pot of a slow cooker. Sprinkle with the Hidden Valley® Ranch Seasoning mix and chili powder. Top with the onion, green chiles (with liquid), beans, and chicken broth. Stir together and cover. Cook on high heat for 3 to 4 hours or on low for 6 to 8 hours. Your dog uses their paws to run, play fetch, go for walks, or just generally get around. Those paws need to be cared for to protect your dog's well-being. Pups need their paws to be in top shape. I have a Jack Russell Terrier that gets 'Cracked-paw' syndrome for at least a week or so every fall There is nothing I do but keep it strayed with H2O2 and water after every walk and use petroleum jelly. Just as quickly as it came, it disappears. It pains me to see 'Jackson' hobble around the.
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For the Spring event in Garden Paws, heres the location of all 20 eggs! Egg 1: In the wood bush past the gate next to Charlie (Found by Kurzidan!) Egg 2: In a fern bush near the Easter area. Egg 3 (Rare): Behind Abby’s stand. Egg 4: In a water bucket inside Mr.Jones’s chicken. In front of the two paws of the Sphinx. The Japanese found another hollow space about 1 m. Again, they believe that it might extend underneath the Sphinx. The conclusion of the Japanese work suggests that the sanctuary of the Sphinx contains more cavities below the Sphinx than were previously known.
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Another misconception: Tree squirrels store their food — tree fruit, like acorns — in their nests or dens to snack on all winter. They don't do that either.
In fact, the process by which tree squirrels keep themselves fed during the winter is a bit more complex and active than stocking the ol' 'pantry' at home, and researchers are learning that it suggests some advanced memory skills.
A new study — from professors in the Department of Psychology at University of California at Berkeley, and published in the September issue of the journal Royal Society of Open Science — claims that tree squirrels use a mnemonic technique called 'spatial chunking' to sort out and bury their nut scores by size, type, and perhaps nutritional value and taste. When they are hungry later, it is theorized, they can remember where to find what they want.
Tree squirrels use a mnemonic technique called 'spatial chunking' to sort out and bury their nut scores by size, type, and perhaps nutritional value and taste.
But let's back up a little. First, it's important to know that both the Eastern gray and Eastern fox squirrels dine on a varying menu of seeds, nuts, acorns, tree buds, berries, leaves, parts of pinecones, and other food some of us don't like to think about (bird eggs and nestlings), as well as the occasional slice of found pizza. Some of that stuff they eat right away; the rest they take to the nest or den for later.
But when winter approaches, squirrels are faced with a challenge: They know instinctively that food sources will soon be scarce, so they gather all the food they'll need, while also keeping themselves fed day to day. That's why they're so busy in the fall, when Mother Nature has made sure that all the acorns have fallen from the trees.
Second, Eastern gray and Eastern fox squirrels are 'scatter hoarders,' which means pretty much what it sounds like — they hoard their food, and scatter it in locations where they can easily access it. That's usually close to the tree holding their nest or den, but they often expand into areas of 7 acres (2.8 hectares). And rather than leaving their goods aboveground where other squirrels can steal them, they bury them — this is called 'caching' — about an inch (2.5 centimeters) under the soil. Squirrels are known to crack open a nut before burying it, to keep it from germinating.
When it comes time to eat, they forage for the nuts they buried. While squirrels possess a strong sense of smell, which allows them to sniff out nuts from under a blanket of dirt, researchers have long noticed evidence of strategic intelligence in the placement of their food. For instance, one study in 2008 reported that Eastern gray squirrels engage in 'deceptive caching' — they dig a hole, pretend to throw the acorn in (while holding it in their mouth), cover up the empty hole, and run off to another secret-stash place. They do this, it was suggested, to fool other squirrels who might be watching.
A 2008 study found that Eastern gray squirrels dig holes, pretend to throw in their acorns, cover up the empty hole, and run off to another secret-stash place to fool other squirrels who might be watching.
Now this: The latest study by Mikel M. Delgado and Lucia F. Jacobs, professors at UC Berkeley indicates more complex thinking behind the caching. In field experiments conducted over 19 months from 2012 to 2014, researchers fed 45 'marked, free-ranging' Eastern fox squirrels one nut at a time — 16 total for each squirrel — varying the type of nut (almonds, hazelnuts, pecans and walnuts). If the squirrels didn't eat the nuts right away, researchers tracked through GPS where the squirrels subsequently buried the prizes.
What they found showed evidence of 'spatial chunking.' In other words, the squirrels put specific nuts in similar places to help them remember what nuts were where (i.e., almonds were placed in one general area, hazelnuts another, pizza another). No, wait, pizza was not involved in this study. But you get the point.
This mnemonic strategy has also been seen in rats. The findings, researchers write in the study, show that 'a scatter hoarder could employ spatial chunking during cache distribution as a cognitive strategy to decrease memory load and hence increase accuracy of retrieval.'
Squirrels have a lot to think about, in other words, and they need all the memory tricks they can get.
At least one other researcher — the guy who figured out squirrels were fake-burying nuts in the above-referenced 2008 study — agrees with the new findings.
'I ... find the results consistent with some of my studies and those of others in which we are learning how involved the scatter-hoarding process is for tree squirrels,' Michael A. Steele, a biology professor at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania, says in an email. 'Squirrels are certainly well adapted to solve foraging and caching problems well beyond most people's greatest expectations.'
The findings, Steele says, can be translated to Eastern gray squirrels, who share similar feeding habits to fox squirrels.
'We know ... that gray squirrels selectively move more valuable seeds/nuts to sites in the open where predation risks are higher but pilferage risks [from other squirrels] are lower,' Steele says. 'This means squirrels assess seed/nut quality and trade off some risk of predation to secure seeds in sites.'
The Berkeley study took into account, among other variables, the sex of the squirrels in the experiment, the order in which the nuts were received by the squirrels, and the weight and nutritional value of each nut.
The next time you see a squirrel digging up a nut, know that she might've just found the exact one she was looking for.
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Chapter 2: Chapter 1
Summary:
A young tabby shows his face at the Sanctum Sanctorum. Soaked and shivering, he is determined to find help.
Notes:
MThis is my first time writing Stephen Strange. I honestly love his character, but if I mess anything up please tell me and I will fix it. Just don’t kick me through a window if I mess anything up.. please.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Rain poured down on the streets of New York, making the concrete sidewalks and the streets shine and reflect. The sky was grey and clouded, beginning to darken as the sun disappeared behind the tall skyscrapers that made up of most of the city. Animals of all different species, shapes, and sizes passed by. Some chattered to others, others focused on their phones. Cars lazily drove by. This street was a quieter one at the time being, which was oddly uncommon for the bustling city.
A car sped by on the water filled streets, splashing water like a wave overtop a small light brown cat. The cat’s once fluffy, striped fur drooped down as the water drenched it. White paws shuffled as the young cat shook, attempting to rid of the excess water. It was in vain as the water pouring from the clouds above quickly drenched it again.
The young cat muttered a sentence along the lines of “How fitting..” as its hazel eyes glanced around the gloomy city. Even if pedestrians didn’t notice the depressing air, the young cat surely did. It turned its attention from the street and towards the large building in front of it. The building was two stories, with a large window atop. The cat only hoped that they had found the right address, after all his dad’s A.I. was intelligent.
Striding forwards on shivering paws from the cold rain that only seemed to make his temperature drop further, the cat would approach a double door. Made of wood. He ignored the quiet tingling in his head. Perhaps he should have indeed listened to that tingling because when he rose a paw to knock, the cat was sent tumbling forwards.
When the feline landed with an ‘oomph’, he slowly blinked open hazel eyes that he didn’t even realize he had closed. Hazel eyes skated over the lobby he was deposited in. Another tingling appeared in the back of his mind, this time louder. The feline jumped to shaky, shivering paws, only to fall down again. Tumbling some more until he lay sprawled out on his belly. A puddle of water surrounding him as his long fur dripped. Hazel eyes blinked open, grumbling in annoyance at his slippery paws. He unsheathed his class to offer himself help in getting up.
Hidden Paws
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” A baritone voice rings out, stopping the young cat dead in his tracks. He had ignored the tingle in his head again, distracted by his current predicament. Hazel eyes snapped up in time to see a sleek dark grey, black, and light grey cat floating above the stairs. A red cloak billowing out behind the older cat dramatically. Azure blue eyes peered down at the soaked tabby kitten. The cloak deposited the tall dark grey cat on the ground neatly. The young cat on the ground noticed the slight way the older male cat’s front paws lifted up a little from the ground at the front. Hazel eyes fell on pink scars where claws should be, but his attention was drawn to the now approaching cat before he could investigate further.
“What are you doing here, kitten?” Questioned the baritone male, now standing a few feet from the young cat. Hazel eyes blinked a moment as he comprehended what he just said. His brain kicked in full force and the kitten tried scrambling to his paws again, the water surrounding him however sent him to the wooden floor once again. The dark grey feline sighed, settling onto his haunches as he rose slightly shaking paws to make a few intricate movements. The tabby gasped as the water around him, and on him, disappeared. Leaving him dry once again.
However, his long coat didn’t take long to fluff up from that. Making him look like a Pomeranian but in cat form. The tabby huffed in annoyance, but lifted himself to his paws. He didn’t have time to question the male on.. whatever the hell he had just performed. He certainly would when he got the chance though. Once again the kitten’s easily distracted brain kicked him into hyperfocus and his mouth snapped open.
“You have to help me! Please! My dad- I mean Mr. Stark my- my mentor! He’s in trouble- he’s missing! I haven’t heard from him since yesterday morning!” The words tumbled quickly out of the kitten’s mouth as he stumbled over words. Pacing back and forth as anxiety plagued him.
The large grey cat held out a paw to stop the kitten in his tracks. “Slow down, kid. What’s your name?” The tabby looked up, halted in his pacing. He shuffled his paws awkwardly before turning to the man with a cloak resting on his back. “Oh! I’m- I’m so sorry! I forgot to introduce myself...” He would trail off, looking down for a moment before peering up at the older male. “My name.. my name is Peter Parker.”
“Alright Peter, my name is Doctor Stephen Strange. Sorcerer Supreme and master of the mystic arts.” The baritone voiced cat introduced himself. The younger cat bit his lip. “Yeah.. I know you’re Doctor Strange, I came here hoping you could help me find Mr. Stark...” Peter muttered out, looking down to his white paws. Stephen twitched am ear, raising an eyebrow the best a cat could. “Tony Stark? I thought he was dealing with the Accords situation.” Peter sighed, glancing up. “He- He was.. but then we went to Germany and had this big fight between the... the other Avengers and then some escaped.. Da- Mr. Stark sent me home and went after Mr. Rogers and Mr. Barnes... I haven’t heard from him since..”
Stephen hummed, pulling a face as he thought. A piece of information stuck out to him and azure blue eyes hardened on the young cat in front of him. “He took a kitten to a fight between superheroes?” Peter stammered. “It’s not what you think Mist- Doctor Strange!” He corrected himself quickly, flinching back at the glare aimed his direction. He bit down memories and focused on the situation at hand. Stephen tilted his head, watching the kitten intently. “Then what is it that I am missing here?” Peter sighed, glancing around quickly. Trying to think of an excuse, but he couldn’t. This guy could probably tell if he was lying and he was his last hope for finding his dad. “Uhh... don’t freak out?”
Stephen rose an eyebrow expectantly, awaiting an answer that would satisfy him. “I’m- I’m Spider-Man?” Peter replied, ears pinned back as he gave a sheepish smile. A sigh finally escaped the sorcerer after a few tense moments. “Of course Tony Stark would mentor a vigilante..” He mumbled under his breath. By the twitching of the kitten’s ears he assumed he had heard him. “Anyways. Why come to me then? I am sure other people could find Mr. Stark.”
Awkward shuffling of paws reoccurred. Peter then sighed and dropped his head and tail. The sorcerer felt a twinge in his heart, but tried to shake it off best he could. “W- Well.. Colonel Rhodes... he was injured in the battle and is hospitalized right now for a spine injury that could paralyze him..” Peter whispered out, sitting down and curling his tail around himself. “And- And Aunt Pepper... she’s busy with the media and trying to find da- Mr. Stark.” Stephen sighed, pushing his curiosity away when Peter called Pepper Potts his aunt. The large grey cat settled beside the small tabby. The red cloak on his back reaching out to pet the kitten’s head gently. The sorcerer would have rolled his eyes at his cloak’s behaviour, but now was not the time.
“I came here hoping to find you... hoping you could find him.. His tracker is off and his A.I. lost contact wth his suit nearly ten hours ago.” Peter whispered, wife hazel eyes peering up at the dark grey feline. Stephen felt guilt pull at his heart strings at the wide eyed kitten beside him. A quiet sigh passed his slightly open jaws. “Okay kit, I’ll help you.” Peter jumped to his paws excitedly. “Really?! Oh my gosh thank you!” He refrained from hugging the sorcerer, unsure how he would take to it.
“But first, I’m going to need a few stands of fur that belong to Tony Stark.” Stephen glanced to the kitten. “Any way we could get those?”
“Yeah! He sheds all the time over the penthouse and lab!” Peter quickly rushes out. Stephen forced down a chuckle. “Alright, got a picture of said penthouse?” Peter blinked curiously at him, looking confused. The kitten seemed to shrug it off as he scrambled to pull an expensive looking phone out of a backpack that Stephen hadn’t realized was there before.
Stephen noted the phone was a StarkPhone, now he was really curious about the truth of the relationship between this tabby kitten and the infamous Tony Stark. He shoved his curiosity down as the tabby turned the phone and pointed the screen in his direction.
It was a picture of the penthouse floor with a passed out Tony Stark on the couch. Stephen soaked in the surroundings of the sleeping longhair. He stood up and walked a few paces away from Peter. Standing on his hind legs and forming a portal to the penthouse living room.
Peter stood there, frozen for a moment. Gawking at the portal the sorcerer just opened. The tabby broke from his trance only to squeal “That’s so dang cool!”. Stephen chuckled at the lively behaviour. “Come on, kitten. Times ticking.” Peter stuffed his phone away and grabbed the bag. Jumping to his paws again. “Right! Gotta find Mr. Stark!” He strode through the portal with newfound confidence. Stephen only followed after he walked through fully, closing the portal behind them.
Stephen let his azure eyes scan the surroundings of the penthouse. It was spacious and large, definitely a billionaire’s place. The grey cat nearly leapt into the air at a new Irish voice that filled the room.
“Welcome home, Peter. I see you were successful in finding Doctor Strange.”
Peter smiled widely up at the ceiling. “Evening FRIDAY! Yeah he agreed to help find Da- Mr. Stark!” The kitten almost slipped up again, jeez he had to get his tongue under wraps else he would spill everything. “That is splendid. Hello Doctor Strange, I am FRIDAY. Mr. Stark’s personal A.I.” Stephen relaxed some, twitching an ear as the Irish lilt filled his ears. “Hello to you too, FRIDAY.” He greeted.
The long legged, sleek dark grey cat turned his azure eyes to Peter. Meeting hazel eyes filled with nervous determination. “Alright, Peter. It’s time to fur hunt. If you find any of Stark’s fur, bring it to me.” Peter nodded. “Gotcha!” He then raced off in the opposite direction.
Stephen sighed, looking around the penthouse once again. The sorcerer began his own search for dark brown fur that could belong to the Stark. He only hoped that he could help find Peter’s mentor. Something about the older cat missing did not sit well with him at all..
He prayed to the Vishanti that they could find Tony Stark, and hopefully soon.
Notes:
Hopefully they can find Tony soon..
Hidden Paws Game
Also! While you’re waiting for updates on this book go check out my other ongoing story; Secrets Kept Hidden
It’s about the Avengers as wolf shifters! There will be IronStrange in that book eventually as well.
It’s about the Avengers as wolf shifters! There will be IronStrange in that book eventually as well.