Squirrels are so organized it’s nuts

They use complex memory strategies to organize their stash. Squirrels are smart. One that runs afoul of a homeowner has to be relocated several miles away, preferably across a body of water, or else it will resolutely find its way back home. And this isn’t the only way that the rodents show their savvy. In a study published today in the journal Royal Society Open Science, researchers at the University of Berkeley present evidence that eastern fox squirrels, a common sight in North America, organize the 3,000-10,000 nuts they stockpile each year by variety, quality, and possibly even personal preference. Under certain conditions, the squirrels may even use a complex cognitive strategy called “chunking” to organize their nut booty.