Tool Use Found in Octopuses

Tool use hasn't been "thought the preserve of humans" for a _long_ time, except by the massively ignorant. Observations of seagulls dropping mollusks onto rocks from a considerable height (to break open the shells) are at least several centuries old. Even tool-*making* isn't exclusive to humans; chimps do it too.

On a camping trip many years ago I left a jar of peanut butter on a picnic table next to the tent. Next morning the cap was off of the Peanut jar and something had scooped an ounce or two out of the jar. I suspected raccoons. I put the lid back on and kept and eye on the jar. Next morning I heard the lid drop off and hit the table. I peeked through the tent flap and saw a Red Winged Blackbird eating out of the jar. He did this every morning while we were there.

DL

That's hugely ignorant.

I guess mud daubers are on the evolutionary track to human-hood.

teach him how to use a cnc mill and we're all set

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Soo... the human couldn't figure out a way to outwit the bird? ;-)

Puppy understands people talk much better than I understand her speech pattern, although I do get the message when she goes into thought transfer mode. Gerry :-)} London, Canada

i think the news in this news story is *"invertebrates"*. did you see the video on tv. it's humorous.

b.w.

They'll be on the mailing list for Grizzly Industrial catalogs before long. ;-)