DENVER, CO—A research team from Denver University recently published the results of their year-long study of eastern fox squirrels, funded by federal grant money. Study author, Sean Casias, 32, and his 6-member team recruited fifty squirrels from Parker, CO neighborhoods to study in their natural habitat. The team wanted to determine why the average lifespan of a squirrel is only 5-6 years in the wild, but they can live as long as 15 years in captivity.
Although squirrels have many natural enemies, the Department of Transportation has long known that the road is the main source of demise for squirrels. Study spokes-squirrel Sparky Nuttree [6] pointed out that, by law, squirrels have the right-of-way on both sidewalks and streets, however he suspects humans are either unaware of the law, or choose to “hunt” the squirrel population in that most savage way. Casias’s team set about to find answers.
The researchers discovered that at about age 3, very new into adulthood, most squirrels begin to develop signs of dementia. The team noted that while squirrels are diligent about carefully and methodically storing food in the ground, it is very rare for them to ever come back for it, as though they can’t remember where they put it. Said Casias, “It is similar to humans wondering, ‘Where did I set my keys?’ only, losing food is a much more serious problem. Think of a human with dementia wondering, ‘Didn’t I have a burger here a minute ago?’ Health suffers when one can’t find his food, human or squirrel.”
Adding to the dementia theory, the researchers noticed how poorly the squirrels handled crossing streets. Common sense dictates looking both ways for safety concerns, yet most squirrels dash into the middle of the street and stop, as though trying to remember, “Where was I going? Why?” Casias said that is a classic sign of dementia, “Squirrels just can’t seem to stay focused, and the street is a very bad place to fall short.” Fully 10% of the study group was lost to this phenomenon during the study period. Post-mortem autopsies confirmed the test subjects’ lack of an important enzyme, protease, which deficiency is linked to dementia in humans.
“The sad thing is,” noted Casias, “those nuts they bury and can’t find again have the very enzyme they need to remember where they buried the nuts! It’s a vicious cycle.” The study shows that squirrels live longer in captivity because they are safe from predators, they receive adequate nutrition which they do not lose track of, staving off the effects of dementia, and their exposure to streets is all but eliminated. Sparky’s parting comment was, “Adopt a squirrel, and keep him off the streets!”