Squirrel gets on at the top cart, rolls down and uses a funicular mechanism to bring another cart to the top.

Would squirrels ride a roller coaster just for fun? Be fun to watch if they did.

ADDENDUM: Per V's suggestion,

1- They get in at the top to get a squirrel treat, the safety door closes like those live catch mouse traps.

2- The mechanism releases, the squirrel, though stressed has a treat to enjoy on its way down.

3- When it reaches the bottom, slowly decelerating before stopping, a second treat is given and the door opens up.

Would it climb back up and do it again? Would you if you were a squirrel? I would if I were a squirrel.
-- doctorremulac3, Sep 15 2025

If there's a safe way to make sure it's the only way to get nuts they might ride it. The problem is making sure they're completely in the car (when it goes into the tunnel or entrance they don't get pinched or injured), can't run down the track without the car and know what to do. I picture a pexiglass tunnel with the car electronically controlled at the top to only start forward if the squirrel is COMPLETELY inside the car. It should be able to roll back at any time the moment the squirrel has any body part outside of it. The start needs to be slow. At the bottom of the track a one way exit from the track section to the food bowl, another one way exit out from there, and the car goes out a second exit and up. The track MUST be too close to the car for any little squirrel fingers to get pinched as they panic on the way down.
-- Voice, Sep 15 2025


It would be best to build it in stages and let the squirrels get used to each stage. Food bowl, food bowl with 2 exits, food bowl with a track leading in, add pexiglass tunnel, add a car they can walk through, make it travel a slow, short trip, etc
-- Voice, Sep 15 2025


Oh wait, you're saying use nuts to get them to do it. Absolutely, one to get them in, only opens after the safety things latch into place, then another door opens to give the reward treat at the end.

And yes, have it close because now that you mention it, that squirrel's natural reaction is to jump off and 20 or so feet in the air that could hurt the little guy.

And yea, do it incrementally too. Just have it open to the secondary treat after 5 feet, 10 feet etc.

Concur.
-- doctorremulac3, Sep 15 2025


Squirrels can jump from stupidly high places and not get injured. Terminal velocity for them is like 20ish mph. Did you not watch Rober's squirrel videos?
-- RayfordSteele, Sep 15 2025



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