California squirrels appear to be changing their traditional food preferences, preferring to eat meat over plant-based foods, according to new scientific research. The finding has attracted widespread attention because it was previously believed that these small animals mainly feed on plants.

The study was conducted by researchers at the University of California, Davis, who looked at the behavior of about 120 California ground squirrels and recorded their food sources. The results showed that these squirrels ate meat almost every day at the beginning of summer, and this behavior did not subside until winter. In addition, the researchers also found that during the fall, some squirrels even catch and devour wild animals such as birds and lizards as food.

The findings suggest that while California's squirrels are still mostly plant-based, they have started experimenting with new food sources, possibly due to climate change or other factors. Still, scientists are unsure whether this change will negatively impact squirrel populations, so further research is needed to determine the best response in this case.

Overall, this finding reminds us that even seemingly simple ecosystems can be affected by complex human activities, and that we need to treat our environment with greater caution.