Ground squirrels are the first animals reported to broadcast an infrared signal, and the message seems to be “Nyah, nyah.”
GO AWAY. In images from an infrared video, a ground squirrel’s tail glows (above) when the rodent is harassing a rattlesnake, which has infrared sensors. Rundus
The tail doesn’t heat up during a spat with a gopher snake, which doesn’t detect infrared radiation.
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