Re: Bone-eating squirrels

On Mon, 01 Dec 2003 17:51:49 GMT, "Dog Ma 1" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
(reply w/o spam)> wrote:

>For some reason, there are lots of beef bones in the woods hereabouts -
>maybe left by dogs? Anyway, squirrels chew them into interesting shapes.
>Does anyone know if they are actually eating the bone, and if so, for
>calcium, protein or what? If not, is it just for fun, to maintain teeth, or
>what?
>
>Thanks-
>
>DM
>
Both.  Squirrels and chipmunks will eat other animal protein,
sometimes killing it themselves.  Not all the baby birds that become
lunch have met that fate due to snakes or cats or raccoons.  Minerals
in concentrated form can be hard to find, too, so they're probably
after that calcium and other minerals in the bones.
-- 

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