Citation
Squirrel Spatial Memory Research
TL;DR
Squirrels use spatial memory including landmarks, distance from reference points, and triangulation
Lucia Jacobs' research at UC Berkeley established the scientific foundation for understanding how squirrels use spatial memory to relocate cached food. Her work demonstrates that squirrels use landmarks, distance from reference points, and triangulation to achieve 70-80% cache recovery rates.
This research provides the empirical basis for the chapter's central metaphor: that 70-80% efficiency represents evolutionary optimization, not failure. The 20-30% 'loss' rate is consistent across studies and enables oak forest regeneration.
Key Findings from Jacobs (1992)
- Squirrels use spatial memory including landmarks, distance from reference points, and triangulation
- Recovery rates of approximately 70-80% of cached acorns
- Memory precision varies with cache importance and recency