Multiple choice

Last winter, in a national park in Himachel Pradesh, one-fourth of the three-stripped squirrel population was unable to find appropriate burrows for hibernation. This is somewhat curious given the fact that during the same period, the summer animals that had inhabited the burrows during the autumn months had migrated. Many of the burrows were large enough to accommodate the squirrels and were well insulated against the harsh winter weather.

Which of the following statement, if true would best explain why the three-stripped squirrels were unable to find appropriate places to hibernate when there were ample burrows available?

  1. Most of the burrows which were left vacant were in the higher parts of the forest region and were therefore inaccessible to the squirrels who inhabit the lower region.

  2. During the winter, a few three stripped squirrels continue to live in burrows, which they inhabited during the autumn months.

  3. Many of the burrows are not conducive to the rearing of small babies.

  4. A very few of the three stripped squirrels migrate to a nearby plain during the winter, therefore do not need to find burrows within the forest.
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A Correct answer
Explanation

This explains why the squirrels were unable to find the vacant burrows.

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