Snaky Smells Help Squirrels Stay Safe Yahoo! News

Researchers at the University of California Davis spotted ground squirrels and rock squirrels chewing up skins shed by rattlesnakes. The squirrels then licked their fur. The observation led the researchers to the conclusion the squirrels are trying to mimic the odor of the snakes. Is that what they are really doing, or are they just adding to their diet while grooming? If they're really doing this as a defense mechanism, where did they learn the process?