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Video Of A Squirrel Who Encounters An Error While Eating Nuts Is Going Viral For How Well It Sums Up The 2020 Mood
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Video Of A Squirrel Who Encounters An Error While Eating Nuts Is Going Viral For How Well It Sums Up The 2020 Mood

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The year 2020 is already a cult classic. Officially one of the worst times in modern history, it has been showering us with unwanted gifts like a creepy admirer. Now, with safety belts securely fastened and survival kits prepped, we are on our way into its very last quarter.

No wonder our last stock of sanity is depleting daily and most of us are basically on the verge of sending our brains into one heck of an overdrive. Like this squirrel. The poor little buddy has just become the symbol of our times and an unsung hero lost in the depths of confusion, akin to so many of us.

So as soon as the video of the squirrel freezing while munching on nuts was taken in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, it started circulating on social media and went viral. It has been viewed almost 470K times on YouTube, and it’s easy to get why. We’ve finally found someone we can truly relate to. And now, let ourselves pause and think.

This video of a squirrel freezing while eating nuts is going viral 

Image credits: ViralHog

And people couldn’t stop having fun in the comments

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No wonder the video featuring a squirrel has gone viral. These tiny creatures are known for their quirky behavior, jumpy nature, and fluffy look.

In fall, squirrels spend a lot of time prepping themselves for the long winter season, so chances are, you’ll see them running errands, digging, collecting stuff, grabbing things, and munching on whatever nuts and seeds they can get their little paws on.

Meanwhile, the furry rodents may often look extremely alert and almost frantic, as seen in the viral video, but scientists have an explanation. With a mix of curiosity and social anxiety, they approach objects that strike their interest or promise food.

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But living near the bottom of the food chain has imbued them with a keen sense of their surroundings, says Suzanne MacDonald, a York University professor. She told National Geographic that squirrels “should be skittish because they can be eaten by everything.”

The viral squirrel freezing up may also be explained by freezing behavior, which emerges as a response to fight, flight, or freeze stimuli that occur in prey animals. It’s believed that freezing happens before or after the fight or flight response is triggered.

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Liucija Adomaite

Liucija Adomaite

Writer, Community member

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Liucija Adomaite is a creative mind with years of experience in copywriting. She has a dynamic set of experiences from advertising, academia, and journalism. This time, she has set out on a journey to investigate the ways in which we communicate ideas on a large scale. Her current mission is to find a magic formula for how to make ideas, news, and other such things spread like a virus.

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Liucija Adomaite

Liucija Adomaite

Writer, Community member

Liucija Adomaite is a creative mind with years of experience in copywriting. She has a dynamic set of experiences from advertising, academia, and journalism. This time, she has set out on a journey to investigate the ways in which we communicate ideas on a large scale. Her current mission is to find a magic formula for how to make ideas, news, and other such things spread like a virus.

Mindaugas Balčiauskas

Mindaugas Balčiauskas

Author, BoredPanda staff

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I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

Read less »

Mindaugas Balčiauskas

Mindaugas Balčiauskas

Author, BoredPanda staff

I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

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Bowtechie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love how he just starts stacking extra nuts into the squirrel's arms while he's frozen like, "well, idk what's going on here, but here's some for the road, little buddy."

Kenny Kulbiski
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've had this happen to me pretty often. If you look around there's usually something new to the surroundings. A dog, stranger, etc. The squirrel is deciding whether to feed or flee. I think they see better peripherally which is why they seem to looking straight ahead.

Stille20
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cute but keep in mind, feeding wild animals will mean they will approach humans expecting food and it could get them into trouble.

glowworm2
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I lost it when the guy started actually putting the nuts in the squirrel's hands.

Pauline Bennett
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a pet squirrel who would do this simply because something else got his attention!

Lyone Fein
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Idk. Seems to me like the squirrel is scared stiff, if not actually going through cardiac arrest. . . . Why does the filmmaker keep touching the food? And moving his thumb around? That food probably smells more like human than like seeds. And to a small animal like a squirrel, humans look like gigantic predators. To be that close to one is probably terrifying.

Brandy Grote
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can imagine his thoughts: "Ooo, nuts! Yumyumyum.... ummm... Mom said humans are scary and bad and I should stay away and... ommnomnomnom.. . Human. Very. Near. What do.... umm..........run!"

Marnie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What the heck kind of squirrel was that?! So beautiful. I've never seen one with that coloring before.

Nothanks L. Walk
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Awwwww... the poor thing's terrified, look at the breathing. If comrade patiencefail would just sit still and stop moving, the poor creature could get his bearings and might actually settle enough to be able to eat.

Mark Howell
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Squirrel.exe did an update .... this will take some time, will restart numerous times, do not power-off your squirrel ;o))

Laura Pantazis
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Right before the squirrel froze, there was a sound of a branch moving and then the sound of an animal. The squirrel was responding to what it feared was a nearby predator. You can hear the animal it's freezing from in the video right before the freezing.

DanieLegz
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anyone else think that bug on the persons hand was on their screen or just me?

jevais
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These were Pin Nuts which are very delicious and expensive. The mint/green tea from North Africa has these nuts in it and much sugar. Absolutely delicious.

Load More Replies...
Bowtechie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love how he just starts stacking extra nuts into the squirrel's arms while he's frozen like, "well, idk what's going on here, but here's some for the road, little buddy."

Kenny Kulbiski
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've had this happen to me pretty often. If you look around there's usually something new to the surroundings. A dog, stranger, etc. The squirrel is deciding whether to feed or flee. I think they see better peripherally which is why they seem to looking straight ahead.

Stille20
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cute but keep in mind, feeding wild animals will mean they will approach humans expecting food and it could get them into trouble.

glowworm2
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I lost it when the guy started actually putting the nuts in the squirrel's hands.

Pauline Bennett
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a pet squirrel who would do this simply because something else got his attention!

Lyone Fein
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Idk. Seems to me like the squirrel is scared stiff, if not actually going through cardiac arrest. . . . Why does the filmmaker keep touching the food? And moving his thumb around? That food probably smells more like human than like seeds. And to a small animal like a squirrel, humans look like gigantic predators. To be that close to one is probably terrifying.

Brandy Grote
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can imagine his thoughts: "Ooo, nuts! Yumyumyum.... ummm... Mom said humans are scary and bad and I should stay away and... ommnomnomnom.. . Human. Very. Near. What do.... umm..........run!"

Marnie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What the heck kind of squirrel was that?! So beautiful. I've never seen one with that coloring before.

Nothanks L. Walk
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Awwwww... the poor thing's terrified, look at the breathing. If comrade patiencefail would just sit still and stop moving, the poor creature could get his bearings and might actually settle enough to be able to eat.

Mark Howell
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Squirrel.exe did an update .... this will take some time, will restart numerous times, do not power-off your squirrel ;o))

Laura Pantazis
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Right before the squirrel froze, there was a sound of a branch moving and then the sound of an animal. The squirrel was responding to what it feared was a nearby predator. You can hear the animal it's freezing from in the video right before the freezing.

DanieLegz
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anyone else think that bug on the persons hand was on their screen or just me?

jevais
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These were Pin Nuts which are very delicious and expensive. The mint/green tea from North Africa has these nuts in it and much sugar. Absolutely delicious.

Load More Replies...
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