They seem so sweet and innocent but these squirrels are also opportunistic killers.
We think of squirrels as adorably harmless creatures, admiring their bushy tails and twitchy little noses and the way they cram their cheeks with nuts or seeds to bring back to their nests for later. But the rodents turn out to be a bit more bloodthirsty than we thought. According to a new paper published in the Journal of Ethology, California ground squirrels have been caught in the act—many times over—of chasing, killing, and eating voles.
Co-author Jennifer Smith, a biologist at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, described the behavior as "shocking," given the sheer number of times they watched squirrels do this. “We had never seen this behavior before," she said. "Squirrels are one of the most familiar animals to people. We see them right outside our windows; we interact with them regularly. Yet here’s this never-before-encountered-in-science behavior that sheds light on the fact that there’s so much more to learn about the natural history of the world around us.”
Squirrels mainly consume acorns, seeds, nuts, and fruits, but they have been known to supplement that diet with insects and, occasionally, by stealing eggs or young hatchlings from nests. And back in 1993, biologist J.R Callahan caused a stir by reporting that as many as 30 species of squirrel could be preying on smaller creatures: namely, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and the occasional small mammal.
Florence Pugh, 28, was diagnosed with PCOS and endometriosis at 27.
She froze her eggs at 27 because both conditions can impact fertility.
Pugh said a different doctor dismissed the diagnoses because of her age.
Florence Pugh has opened up about two recent diagnoses that prompted her to freeze her eggs at 27 years old.
Speaking on Dear Media's SHE MD podcast with her Beverly Hills gynecologist, Pugh, now 28, discussed the moment she was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis — conditions that can impact fertility.
The Oscar-nominated actress said it was a "mind-boggling" experience to find out that having kids may not be a straight-forward process for her, and embarking into the world of fertility preservation.
Pugh also said that another doctor back home in London, whom she did not identify, dismissed her diagnoses.
"She shook her head and she said, 'well, that's just not possible,'" Pugh recalled. She said she told the doctor about her egg count and hormone test results done in LA. Pugh said the doctor responded: "No, you're fine. And even if you do have it, you'll be fine to have kids well into your 30s."
Dr. Thais Aliabadi, the gynecologist who diagnosed Pugh, reacted to her story on the podcast: "That is what women go through every single day."
PCOS and endometriosis — the leading causes of infertility — often go undiagnosed
Common symptoms of both include irregular and painful periods, as well as bloating or weight gain. PCOS symptoms also include thinning hair, excess hair growth, acne, and darkened skin.
Pugh said she had some of the symptoms, like weight fluctuations, acne, and "hair that shouldn't be in certain places." She attributed them all to work stress and just "part of being a woman."
Pugh said she went to get a checkup after being hit by a "sudden feeling" that something was off with her body. "I'd had a few weird dreams; I think my body was telling me," Pugh said.
At the appointment, Aliabadi asked Pugh if she'd ever had her eggs counted — something Pugh said she never thought of doing because she was young.
After counting her eggs and giving Pugh a hormone test, Aliabadi diagnosed her with both PCOS and endometriosis, encouraging her to freeze her eggs in her 20s.
Pugh said she had heard of the conditions before, but didn't think they were common. 1 in 10 women have PCOS, and roughly 200 million people worldwide have endometriosis.
She also didn't expect to have fertility problems because of her family history. "My family are baby-making machines," she said. Her mother had babies into her 40s, for example. She said she was grateful to get diagnosed and freeze her eggs because she'd been wanting kids since she was a child.
These conditions are often misdiagnosed or ignored
Pugh said she understands that she has "privilege in areas where others won't," so if her symptoms were dismissed, other patients might take even longer to get proper treatment.
Pugh said she believes everyone should be educated on PCOS and endometriosis because "it's something that will be the defining factor of whether you can have children or not."
