A couple of days ago, I saw 2 vultures dining on squirrel road-kill buffet in my neighborhood. First time I've seen vultures on the ground here. And it got me thinking about how many squirrels seem...depressed...and seek to end their existence by running into the street.
I recalled some of my officer friends recounting how they encountered clusters of the morose rodents on their patrols, avoiding them, but seeing them later, flat in the road.
Some of this can be accounted for by the youngsters not understanding what cars are, and how fast they're moving. Also, running away from a rival or predator with blind abandon.
But that doesn't explain why it can happen when there is seemingly no reason for them to kamikaze your car. Then I though of toxoplasma gondii, and what it does to rats- as well as other "zombie" parasites, seen here:
http://io9.com/12-real-parasites-that-control-the-lives-of-their-hosts-461313366
Could suicidal squirrels be affected by toxoplasma gondii or a similar affliction? Has anyone seen any studies on this?
I recalled some of my officer friends recounting how they encountered clusters of the morose rodents on their patrols, avoiding them, but seeing them later, flat in the road.
Some of this can be accounted for by the youngsters not understanding what cars are, and how fast they're moving. Also, running away from a rival or predator with blind abandon.
But that doesn't explain why it can happen when there is seemingly no reason for them to kamikaze your car. Then I though of toxoplasma gondii, and what it does to rats- as well as other "zombie" parasites, seen here:
http://io9.com/12-real-parasites-that-control-the-lives-of-their-hosts-461313366
Could suicidal squirrels be affected by toxoplasma gondii or a similar affliction? Has anyone seen any studies on this?
