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Biology

Kin Recognition and Altruism in Ground Squirrels

Quick fact

Ground squirrels are more likely to give alarm calls when close relatives are nearby, and they recognize kin chiefly by scent, not by sight or sound.

Why this is interesting

When a hawk glides over a meadow, a ground squirrel lets out a high-pitched whistle, warning its neighbors to dive for cover. But doesn't that make the whistler more likely to be eaten?