by Ron Kurtus
Readers have sent in a total of 282 comments and questions on Behavior issues. They are listed according to date.
You can read them to further your understanding of the subject.
|Stimulate motivated behavior||Stimulus||UK|
|Squirrel made a home in the feeder||Squirrels||USA|
|Squiirels are acting crazy||Squirrels||USA|
|Squirrels claimed Mango tree as their own||Squirrel Defenses||Sri Lanka|
|Consequences of squirrel losing tail||Squirrel Defenses||USA|
|Bird is screaming at night||Hookbills||USA|
|Will a squirrel's tail grow back?||Squirrel Defenses||USA|
|Source for squirrel losing tail||Squirrel Defenses||Canada|
|Smiling makes one feel better||General||USA|
|Pitch in squirrel's fur||Squirrels||USA|
|What is a normal person?||General||Philippines|
|Why would a gray squirrel kill another squirrel?||Squirrels||USA|
|What are types of behavior?||Special Types||Philippines|
|How did squirrel know there were seeds in the feeder?||Squirrels||USA|
|Are our behaviors genetically inherited?||Special Types||Uganda|
Stimulate motivated behavior
May 8, 2018
Explain what stimulus stimulates motivated behaviour.
Nichole - UK (28546)
A stimulus is any object or event that elicits a sensory or behavioral response in an organism.
Motivated behavior is the influence of an individual's needs and desires both have a strong impact on the direction of their behavior. Motivation is based on your emotions and achievement-related goals. There are different forms of motivation including extrinsic, intrinsic, physiological, and achievement motivation.
Squirrel made a home in the feeder
May 14, 2017
OK, I hope this one does not stump you, but I had bought many months ago, a metal squirrel feeder with a lid, and my Wife and I have enjoyed watching them, eat, play, get closer and more trustworthy of us.
But a couple of days ago a very strange thing occurred. As I was standing on our deck looking at the squirrel feeder over on the fence, something looked odd, so I went over to look. A squirrel had climbed INSIDE, with the lid closed and appeared all curled up, either asleep or I was afraid had died. I wasn't sure what to do. I finally rousted him awake (Whew, wasn't dead), but he sure appeared afraid.
I went to prop the lid open, looking for something to use, figuring if I propped it open, he'd leave. Well minutes later I came up with something (He had plenty of time to escape while I was looking, but hadn't). While I was in the process of trying to prop the lid open, the squirrel came flying out of there, startling the CRAP out of me>>LOL.
Well I figured, lesson learned for him or HERS>>LOL. Won't do that again. Well late this afternoon, early evening, there it was again. It took me longer to prompt it to leave, and I decided to take the feeder down, and plan to give it and the near new bag of feed away.
But I am still wondering, why this behavior, why now, this one squirrel after so many months??? Didn't appear ill, because it ran like the dickens.
Steve - USA (28046)
It sounds to me like the squirrel thought it found a good home that included a source of food. Of course, you frightened the critter when you tried to prop open the lid.
We had a squirrel feeder on our back deck and supplied it with peanuts. But then one of them ate a hole in the sliding screen door and would start to come into the kitchen to beg for food. We then removed the feeder to discourage them.
They are clever little animals and fun to watch, but they can be a nuisance too.
Squiirels are acting crazy
June 10, 2015
I have seen this on more than one occasion. Squirrel looks healthy, but they don't seem right in the head. It will appear to throw it self to the ground and do flips in the air. Roll and tumble. Run in short bursts and repeated the same actions. I am in hopes that you are able to answer some of these questions for me. Should I be concerned? Thank you for your time. DKD
Debbie - USA (26084)
Adolescent squirrels can tend to act crazy, especially during mating season. It may be an effort to impress a possible mate or just to have fun.
Some people wondered if it was a sign of rabies. However, that is doubtful, since very few squirrels catch the disease.
At the very least, observe and enjoy their antics.
Squirrels claimed Mango tree as their own
May 30, 2015
In my back yard I have a small mango tree. When there are fruits it's inhabited by two squirrels only. However about 20m away there was another Mango tree where about 10 -12 squirrels come and eat mangos, but they never come to my Mango tree. So we happily eat mangoes with these two who may eat about 8 - 10 out of about 300 or so that are available through out the season.
Recently my neighbour cut his tree. We were scared that all those squirrels would attack our tree, but to our surprise non did. Does this mean that squirrels have their own territory and do not allow others to come to their location? I know that such a trait is there with tigers, cheetas etc.
Please enlighten me.
Nalin - Sri Lanka (26041)
It certainly looks like the two squirrels in your Mango tree had staked out their claim to the tree, probably through some urine markings. Perhaps they also had shown aggression toward other squirrels that wanted to eat from "their tree", such that the others did not want to take any chances trying to get the mangoes.
Since there are probably many other places they can go to get their food, they just moved on to a different territory.
Marking their own territory is a good way to avoid costly fights among the various animals.
Consequences of squirrel losing tail
January 13, 2015
There is a squirrel in my back yard whose tail is absent. What are the consequences of the loss of this appendage for the squirrel?
Thank you for answering.
Joanne - USA (25700)
Sometimes a squirrel will lose part of its tail when trying to get away from a predator. A major use for the tail is to help with balance, although it is also used for communication, as well as warmth when sleeping.
Hopefully, the little fellow will be able to get by without its tail.
Bird is screaming at night
September 4, 2014
Thank you so much for reading this.
I live in Auburn California and for the last several nights, between 2 and 5 am something is screaming all by itself. It fades then gets louder and closer then seems to fly away again yet I cant see or hear any kind of wings. My backyard is all natural oak like a forest. The screams sound like between an old small dog or even an old lady. Its deafening.
Upon much investigation its gotta be some kind of Hook bill.
The screams are heartbreaking. Is there anything I can do to help him? Its calling for something I don't think we'll ever find. I just want to hold him and tell him everything is o.k.
I know this is stupid, but maybe I can find a way to comfort him. Is that possible?
Tonight is the third night. I'll hear if he's still out there. If he is, I'll email you back. If he isn't, I guess there's no reason you'd have to email me back as well.
Thank You for your time,
Oona - USA (25337)
If the screaming happened only one night, I'd guess it was an animal caught by a coyote or such. But several nights in a row, it sure sounds like some sort of bird.
The screams or squawks may not be calls of distress, but perhaps some normal noise-making, especially if it happens about the same time in the late night. Could it be a mating call?
If it is a pet hook bill that got lose, you might see it during the day.
You might check with the Audubon Society in California to see if there is something you can do.
It is nice that you are concerned. Best wishes on helping out our feathered friend.
Will a squirrel's tail grow back?
May 3, 2014
If a squirrel loses it's tail will it grow back?
Ann - USA (24919)
Apparently, it partially grows back, resulting in a stump for a tail. Where the bones in the tail have been lost, they will not rejuvenate.
People have reported seeing squirrels with a furry stump for a tail.
Source for squirrel losing tail
April 29, 2014
How does a squirrel's tail break off so easily. Can you please tell me your source for this.
Marley - Canada (24908)
I don't think the squirrel's tail breaks off easily, but it will break if grabbed by a person or other animal. There aren't many good resources on this.
The Univ. of California-Davis Wiki has a mention of it in answer to a question.
Smiling makes one feel better
February 15, 2014
PS. :}:}:} smiling does make one feel better! Thanks again,
Claudia - USA (24518)
Not only does smiling make you feel better, it also makes most other people feel better too.
Pitch in squirrel's fur
September 27, 2013
why don't squirrels have pitch in their fur?
Tina - USA (24058)
I'm not sure what you mean by "pitch in their fur".
What is a normal person?
June 11, 2013
being a normal person
merah - Philippines (23771)
A normal person is one who behaves in a way that is consistent or similar to most other people. However, this varies with different groups or cultures.
Why would a gray squirrel kill another squirrel?
May 27, 2013
why would a gray squirrel kill and chew off the head of another gray squirrel I saw this happen I never seen this before it happened at the welcome center in KY
elizabeth - USA (23724)
Sometimes male squirrels will fight with rivals and sometimes get pretty nasty, such that they kill them. Females will also fight to defend their your. Males will also sometimes kill the young of rival male.
You wouldn't think squirrels would do such things, but it is not uncommon with other animal species.
What are types of behavior?
November 23, 2012
types of behavior? please help
Don Henry - Philippines (23046)
Behavior is how a person acts and responds to some stimulus.
One view is that there are three main types of behavior: passive, assertive, and aggressive. This concerns how people act toward activities and other people. There can also be a combination of those types.
There is also a view that a person behaves according to his or her personality.
Finally, there is the view that people behave according to their training, as well as their personality. For example, an aggressive child may be taught to behave in a better manner.
As you can see, it can be a complex topic.
How did squirrel know there were seeds in the feeder?
May 15, 2012
my bird feeder has been empty at least two weeks now.i put new seed in this morning at about eleven oclock i hadd a squarelin it.how did he know there was new seed in it.before for two weeks no sign of the rodent.thank you.
forest - USA (22652)
Squirrels have good noses and can smell the seeds. Their good sense of smell is how they find the nuts they bury.
The squirrel could have been doing his daily rounds and could smell that you had put the bird seeds in the feeder.
Are our behaviors genetically inherited?
April 2, 2012
my question is, Are our behaviors genetically inherited or are as a result of the environment? has culture played some roles in the formation of our behaviors, how?
Katandi - Uganda (22552)
There has been a debate among scientists concerning behavior called "Nature versus Nurture". In other words, whether it is .
For some types of behavior, genetics plays a major role, while other behaviors it is the environment or training that determines the behavior. So, in all behaviors, the result is a mixture of genetics and environment in varying proportions.
For example, young children behave in a basically selfish manner. However, over the years, they learn to have a behavior of sharing with others. Of course, there are some adults who never learn to share.
A culture sets rules and standards where they expect members to adhere to those standards. A person who does not adapt his behavior to cultural rules can be ostracized from the group.
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