Squirrels will make alarm sounds when a model of an owl is placed in their territory. When a red block the same size of the owl is placed in the territory, the squirrel does not alarm. What can you conclude from these observations?

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Olivia Huber

Biology

8 September, 02:10

Squirrels will make alarm sounds when a model of an owl is placed in their territory. When a red block the same size of the owl is placed in the territory, the squirrel does not alarm. What can you conclude from these observations?

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Deangelo Cannon · Answer 1

The squirrels are attuned in their brains to understand that owls are a threat because it is a predator. This is visual stimuli that evolved over many years to elicit a conditioned response. This is an innate behavior (meaning that it has been pre-programmed into an animal's genes) and offspring are naturally born with it.