Male red squirrels kill offspring of rivals, new University of Alberta study suggests
Channel: Daily News
Date: 2018-03-15

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Squirrels kill pups in hopes of a 2nd chance at fatherhood
Wildlife biologist Jessica Haines of the University of Alberta was conducting routine fieldwork in Yukon in spring 2014 when she heard a commotion in the trees.

A male red squirrel had intruded on a nest of newborn pups, attacked one and killed it — right before her eyes.
"I was excited, on the one hand, but also kind of horrified and fascinated to be seeing this all at once," Haines said.
Haines had observed a phenomenon called sexually selected infanticide, behaviour previously undocumented in red squirrels.