Squirrels kill pups in hopes of a 2nd chance at fatherhood
Wildlife biologist Jessica Haines of the University of Alberta was conducting routine fieldwork in Yukon in spring 2014 when she heard a commotion in the trees.
A male red squirrel had intruded on a nest of newborn pups, attacked one and killed it right before her eyes.
"I was excited, on the one hand, but also kind of horrified and fascinated to be seeing this all at once," Haines said.
Haines had observed a phenomenon called sexually selected infanticide, behaviour previously undocumented in red squirrels.
In years when food is plentiful and female squirrels produce two litters of pups, male squirrels kill the offspring of their rivals.
Their motive for infanticide is a second chance at fatherhood, Haines said.
Haines had observed a phenomenon called sexually selected infanticide, behaviour previously undocumented in red squirrels.
In years when food is plentiful and female squirrels produce two litters of pups, male squirrels kill the offspring of their rivals.
Their motive for infanticide is a second chance at fatherhood, Haines said.
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