SAN DIEGO — A California ground squirrel bravely stood its ground against a southern Pacific rattlesnake in a dramatic eight-minute standoff captured at the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported.

The squirrel was seen tossing wood chips, flicking its tail, and jumping around the rattlesnake, which had likely just eaten another squirrel. Despite the snake’s full belly and defensive rattling and striking, it didn’t pursue. Wildlife experts say the squirrel wasn’t just acting in self-defense—it was also protecting its burrow, alerting other squirrels in the area, and possibly defending its young or close relatives.

California ground squirrels have evolved several anti-predator strategies to ward off snakes. These include heating their tails to confuse the predator’s infrared sensors, kicking sand, and throwing debris. The encounter highlights the species’ remarkable adaptations and social behavior in the face of danger.

Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service