Humans have been consuming jerky since ancient times, but we are not the only ones. The appeal of this tasty snack is, in fact, so universal that many animals have developed their version of it. While we have a clear preference for beef jerky, some other animals have considered their favorite meals. For example, red fire ants have been observed to save “tasty” cuts of their meals and set them to dry, while red squirrels slice mushrooms and set them to dry on trees to consume further ahead. While these cannot compete with the richness of beef jerky, they’re not a bad idea at all. Well done, Mother Nature.