I am willing to bet you have never wondered whether gray squirrels can be ambidextrous, right, or left-handed. I know I didn’t. However, research conducted by scientists at the University of Exeter found that gray squirrels can indeed be ambidextrous, right, or left-handed.
Interestingly, those squirrels that show a paw preference are not as adept at learning tasks as those that are ambidextrous.
Since the gray squirrels that call my backyard home have no problem quickly figuring out how to raid any new feeder I put out, they must be ambidextrous!
Interesting!
What makes a person right or left handed? My mother was left handed but made to change..back in the day. My sister was left handed. My brother was right handed. I am left handed. I begged my mother to try for one more to see how they would turn out. She refused.
Hi Carol,
The human brain is divided into 2 sections, called hemispheres. I don’t know about squirrels, but in humans one side,(either right or left), one side is dominant, which means the way we process things differently. The left brain tends to be more mathematical, logical, analytical, while the right brain is more intuitive, creative, artistic. The thought processes cross over, right brain to left side of body, left brain to the right side. And in that, motor skills are affected. So, left brained dominant people are usually right handed, and right brained are usually left handed.
It’s a shame how teachers used to force children into all being right handed, which was more for the teachers convenience! My father was left handed, and his teachers TRIED to change him, but it didn’t last in him, lol. I can’t imagine how that must feel, going against your natural inclinations! I’m sorry for all who have had to suffer that!
(I hope this helps)
I received an interesting post is response to post regarding right and left-handed squirrels. The writer provides a great explanation as to how the brain works. I am sure researchers will eventually discover more similarities and differences between the human and squirrel brain.