A cow using a scratcher is doing something that provides an immediate reward. The cow that selects and manipulates an appropriate stick is planning ahead for a future reward.

I think they make a distinction between acting on an object and merely using the environment. The first requires more agency, I guess.

thing is, if you call that tool usage then it's also tool usage to.. do most things, really. Is it tool usage when chinchillas take dust baths to clean themselves?

That quote by itself is fine, but when they combine it with “unravel” and “supposed” it puts a different interpretation on it.

I usually equate “unravel” with “tear apart”, but maybe they meant something more like “unpack”.

I dunno—in this case, confirmed tool use seems more noteworthy than debunked tool use.

Maybe the implication of a dispute just sounds more dramatic.