Question:
I do not own an animal, nor am I owned by one. However, for at least 50 years I have had a love-hate relationship with squirrels. They fascinate me.My question is: Where in the world do they get their strength? I have many tall trees in my yard (oak and hickory -- some about 60 to 70 feet tall). And I have frequently watched a squirrel run up one of those trees nearly to the top. And then, about five or 10 minutes later, repeat this climb. This goes on throughout the day.I know they eat acorns and hickory nuts from the trees, as well as other available foods, but I cannot imagine how this diet gives them such super-strength. The climb would seem to be the equivalent of a man running up the side of a 100-story building! Can you enlighten me on this?.
C.H., Alexandria, Va Feb 06, 2005
Answer:
It's all a matter of genetic endowment, and in the realm of agility and short-term stamina, squirrels are our superiors. Aside from their tails, which help provide balance and keep them warm in winter, their light bodies, high metabolism, innate climbing ability and climber's claws (like a mountaineer's crampons) make them perfect tree-dwellers.Their superbly adapted digestive system also enables them to efficiently derive calories from a vegetarian diet. The oils and protein in their favorite foods (nuts, acorns and other seeds) are the perfect fuel for these furry acrobats.
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