alt Hacker NewsMy 1 year old can't write equations on a chalkboard. Despite that, she shows compassion and what if consider abstract thought.
The issue that I think you're highlighting is that we can't map our measures of intelligence directly on to other animals. Animals can't write, so it wouldn't make sense to use a measure that requires writing when evaluating a fox or squirrel.
But your 1yo might in the future do so, and might even show much greater compassion in her future.
A fox or squirrel absolutely will not, nor will they break out that chalk.