Squirrels trimming yew trees

[Snipefly]

Squirrels have been eating yew berries and have been trimming the ends of branches in the process. Has anyone else come across this behaviour?

[Paul mabbott]

Grey squirrels presumably?
Yew seed is supposedly toxic - perhaps these are suicidal?

[RobSutton]

I've seen grey squirrels, rabbits and roe deer having a go at the Yew near me when we've got deep snow and there's nothing else to have a go at. The roe's eat it regularly in winter.

[Ladywell]

I thought you was deadly poisonous -it certainly is to cattle and horses.

[aeshna5]

The fleshy pulp isn't toxic even to us, though the seeds + foliage are. It's possible the seed does pose the same problem to rodents, but I just don't know.