Who Smarted? — “Do Squirrels Make Good Pets?”

Date: March 30, 2026
Podcast: Who Smarted? (Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media)
Host: Adam Tex Davis (Narrator), Jerry Colbert, with characters Cecily the Squirrel (Charlotte Cohn) and Ratso the Rat (Mike “Ratzo” Privetti)

Episode Overview

In this lively and humor-filled episode, Who Smarted? explores a kid-favorite question: Do squirrels make good pets? Packed with fast-paced banter, animal trivia, and a clever game show, the episode investigates the similarities and differences between squirrels and rats, common misconceptions about both, their role in the ecosystem, and why feeding or keeping squirrels as pets might not be such a smart idea after all.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Squirrels vs. Rats — Just Fuzzy-Tailed Cousins?

• Setting the Scene: The narrator tries to relax in a park with pizza, only to be approached by Cecily the Squirrel hoping for a snack. Ratso the Rat interrupts, teasing Cecily and pointing out their similarities.
• Initial Question: Are squirrels just rats with bushy tails? The hosts use this playful rivalry to set up their animal comparison.

2. Rodent Relatives — Same Order, Different Families

• Key Fact:
  • Rodents include both rats and squirrels, but they’re in different scientific families despite being in the same order.
• Quote:
  • “While both rats and squirrels are rodents, that means they belong to the same scientific order, not family. Evolutionarily speaking, their families split tens of millions of years ago.” (Narrator, 05:10)

3. “Rat vs. Squirrel” Game Show

• Format: The narrator quizzes Cecily and Ratso (and listeners) on differences and similarities.
• Major Questions/Answers:

  • Size: Squirrels are typically larger. (06:32)

  • Activity Time: Squirrels are active during the day; rats are nocturnal. (06:45)

  • Diet:

    • Rats eat anything, often raid garbage, are known for carrying food away (like the viral pizza rat).
    • Squirrels prefer nuts, seeds, fruits, and insects, often burying food for winter.
    • “Our sense of smell is so good, we can find snacks under a foot of snow. ... Some of our stored nuts end up growing into big, beautiful trees.” (Cecily, 07:31)

  • Teeth: Both have continuously growing incisor teeth. (08:24)

  • Self-Cleaning: Both groom themselves often; “Rats actually aren't that dirty—in fact, they clean themselves more thoroughly than cats do.” (Narrator, 09:01)

  • Disease-Carrying: Both can carry and spread diseases; not just rats. Squirrels can carry Lyme disease, and rats are famous for their alleged connection to the bubonic plague.

    • “Both. While rats are better known disease spreaders, squirrels can carry some dangerous illnesses, like Lyme disease.” (Narrator, 09:49)

  • Speed: Squirrels win—they can run up to 20 mph and make impressive jumps. (10:30)

  • Pestiness:

    • Rats: Damage inside houses, chew groceries and wires.
    • Squirrels: Damage roofs, yards, and even cause power outages (10–20% of them!). (11:01)

4. Should You Feed Squirrels? Make Them Pets?

• Key Advice:

  • “One thing you definitely shouldn’t do is touch them. Of course, the same goes for any wild animal.” (Narrator, 03:32)
  • “Many wildlife experts say you shouldn't feed squirrels. That's because:
    • You'll attract more animals (and potential disease)
    • Human food is bad for squirrels
    • They can become dependent on handouts
    • They might lose their fear of humans and get aggressive
      ...Actually, all of the above.” (Narrator, 12:28)

• Humorous but Cautionary Ending:

  • Cecily disappointed she can’t have pizza; the narrator’s pizza gets stolen by Ratso the Rat, reinforcing the lesson about food, wildlife, and city critters.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Are squirrels just rats with fuzzy tails or are they something else? What makes them such good climbers? And is it a good idea to feed them?” (Narrator, 02:46)
• “Our sense of smell is so good, we can find snacks under a foot of snow. ... Some of our stored nuts like acorns end up growing into big, beautiful trees, which are great for the environment.” (Cecily, 07:31)
• “While squirrels are known to be some of the cleanest rodents, rats actually aren't that dirty in fact, they clean themselves more thoroughly than cats do.” (Narrator, 09:01)
• “Squirrels can scamper over twice as fast [as rats], reaching speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. Squirrels are also great jumpers.” (Narrator, 10:30)
• “Squirrels cause a lot of damage, too... They even gnaw on power lines, causing 10 to 20% of all power outages!” (Narrator, 11:01)
• “Sorry, squirrel. It’s actually all of the above.” [On why you shouldn’t feed squirrels] (Narrator, 12:28)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:47 — First encounter between narrator and Cecily the Squirrel
• 02:20 — Ratso the Rat makes his appearance
• 03:32 — Why people like squirrels more than rats
• 05:00–05:10 — Are they related? Explanation of rodent order vs. family
• 06:02–11:35 — “Rat vs. Squirrel” Game Show (differences, trivia, pestiness)
• 12:00–12:32 — Should you feed squirrels? Multiple choice and full explanation
• 12:54 — Classic pizza rat scene and humorous New York send-off

Tone & Style

• Fast-paced, funny, clearly aimed at keeping kids engaged
• Features zany character voices and city-centric humor
• Encourages critical thinking with interactive “game show” and quiz elements
• Blends science and social advice with playful banter

Takeaways

• Squirrels and rats are both rodents but come from different families.
• They have key differences (habitat, diet, behavior) but also many similarities (teeth, intelligence, even cleanliness).
• Feeding squirrels or keeping them as pets isn’t smart—for their health, your safety, and broader ecological reasons.
• Squirrels, while cute, can do real damage and shouldn't be tamed, touched, or fed by people.
• Learning is way more fun when it’s a little goofy—and a lot smart!

For Listeners

If you or your kids ever wondered, “What’s the real difference between squirrels and rats?” or “Is it OK to feed that squirrel in the park?”—you’ll find answers, laughs, and probably crave pizza just like the city’s rodents by the end of this episode.