TAKES SOME NUTS: BRAVE SQUIRREL AVOIDS MULTIPLE SNAKE ATTACKS TO CHASE PREDATOR AWAY FROM BABIES
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A brave squirrel avoided multiple snake attacks to chase the predator away from its babies.
Francesca Carli and her husband Mario were on holiday in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa, when their guide alerted them to a leaping ground squirrel near them.
Incredible footage captured the rodent sparring with the mole snake, managing to dodge lightning fast bites from the reptile.
Having leapt into the air to escape the attacks for almost 15 minutes, the squirrel managed to chase the snake off the grass and into a nearby tree.
“They fought for about 15 minutes then the snake escaped and took refuge in a bush.”
Francesca Carli
Did You Know? Ground squirrels
Ground squirrels can stand on their hind legs to keep an eye out for predators. Vigilance is their superpower! 
Some ground squirrels store food in underground burrows to survive the winter months. 
Ground squirrels have lightning-fast reflexes—perfect for dodging hawks and foxes! 
Ground squirrels communicate with a series of high-pitched warning calls to alert friends of danger. 
These little diggers can create burrow networks that stretch over 30 feet underground! 
Francesca said: “It was so exciting but the thing that impressed us the most was the courage of the little squirrel who kept jumping against the snake.
“The squirrel spreads its tail and places it over its head to make it look bigger, but in reality the snake is much bigger and stronger than it.
“Everything was very quiet due to the high temperatures. We saw something moving in the middle of the valley on our right.
“We stopped immediately and saw the squirrel jumping. Only later did we realize that there was also a snake.
“They fought for about 15 minutes then the snake escaped and took refuge in a bush.
“The squirrel kept looking in the direction of the snake, making the alarm sound.
“The ranger explained us that the squirrel probably had the den nearby. He wanted to drive away snake because it is a great danger.”
Learn More About: Lions
Scientific Name: Spermophilus
Size: 7–12 in (18–30 cm) 🪶 + tail 3–8 in (8–20 cm)
Weight: 4–12 oz (110–340 g) ⚖️
Lifespan: 3–6 years 🌱
Diet: Seeds 🌰, nuts 🥜, fruits 🍓, insects 🐜, small animals 🐦
Habitat: Grasslands 🌾, deserts 🏜️, forests 🌲, rocky areas 🪨
Behavior: Active during the day ☀️, social 👫, live in colonies 🏘️
Burrows: Complex underground tunnels 🕳️ with multiple entrances
Predators: Hawks 🦅, snakes 🐍, foxes 🦊, coyotes 🐺
Did you know? Some ground squirrels hibernate ❄️, while others stay active all year! 🌎
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