California ground squirrels rub rattlesnake skin to mask scent

The California ground squirrel has a strange way of protecting itself against predators, which includes chewing on rattlesnake skin and rubbing it onto their bodies. There are actually several ways this assists the squirrel with surviving, one of them being that it masks their scent, making it harder for snakes to locate them. It also confuses predators, as they may pick up the scent of a snake when approaching the squirrel, and predators will often decide to vacate the area to avoid confrontation with what they believe to be a rattlesnake. 🐍 🐿

National Geographic