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I'm a little flabbergasted that the idea of animals using tools is so groundbreaking. I've seen squirrels pick apples up off the ground, climb to the top of a

I'm a little flabbergasted that the idea of animals using tools is so groundbreaking. I've seen squirrels pick apples up off the ground, climb to the top of a tree, and drop the apple over and over again to break it into small convenient pieces. I've seen birds do the same thing too, with shellfish. You see all kinds of stuff when you have your eyes open.

SketchySeaBeast 7y ago
I don't think it's the tool use, its the specific tool use - they are observing a new behaviour. It's not that they assumed they couldn't (I mean, look up "Chimps using tools" on youtube), it's just a novel behaviour, which is neat to see. It's not something groundbreaking, it's just notable.
nipponese 7y ago
Wait until chimps figure out how to refine oil and use combustion engines.
- angstrom 7y ago
  When you consider the effort to get to that stage of locomotion it's amazing that flying birds haven't advanced faster technologically.
  - emmelaich 7y ago
    I guess birds (and most animals) have a hit a local minimum that they'll never climb out of.
    - Kye 7y ago
      Humans got lucky with figuring out fire. Fire simplifies everything.
PakG1 7y ago
Wow, my brain can't process that. How do the squirrels climb if they're holding the apple at the same time?