# squirrels tails

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrels-tails/91807>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 6, 2001, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrels-tails/91807 "2001-11-06T16:29:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2001, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrels-tails/91807/1 "2001-11-06T16:29:48Z")

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I was struck watching our local squirrels as to why their tails were so large in comparison to their bodies. No other climbing animal seems to need such a large appendix, so is it for balance, warmth, food reserve or sexual display?

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**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2001, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrels-tails/91807/2 "2001-11-06T16:36:08Z")

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I’ve long suspected it was a decoy and distraction.

Most of that tail is hair. When a cat strikes at the squirrel, it’s as likely to strike the tail as the rest of the squirrel – it’s as long as the rest of its body. Even if it strikes the tail, the cat will most likely get air, rather than flesh-and-blood tail.

The way the squirrel moves shows that it intends the tail to be a decoy. Watch the way it moves when they run/hop. Or the way they’ll jiggle their tail (and nothing else) when trying to capture a cat’s attention.  
So my vote – squirrels got long tails because the long-tailed ones (especially those who used it for deception) lived long enough to reproduce.

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2001, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrels-tails/91807/3 "2001-11-06T16:55:31Z")

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Certainly they use it for balance (using it as a ‘paddle’ to push against air resistance in the same way as a tightrope walker might use an umbrella), although that may not be the only reason;

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2001, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrels-tails/91807/4 "2001-11-06T17:07:47Z")

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Another thing; when they make long flying leaps from one tree to another, their tails help to maintain the correct attitude.

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**Author:** ![Spritle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Spritle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spritle)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2001, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrels-tails/91807/5 "2001-11-06T17:24:41Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Mangetout \*  
> \*\*Another thing; when they make long flying leaps from one tree to another, their tails help to maintain the correct attitude. \*\*

And having the right attitude is half the battle 😃

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**Author:** ![Racer\_Named\_Fisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecc23a/32.png) [@Racer\_Named\_Fisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Racer_Named_Fisk)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2001, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrels-tails/91807/6 "2001-11-06T17:31:26Z")

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WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!