I think it's a mistake to assume that any one animal species will replace us.
It's much more likely that visitors to earth in a few million years will encounter beavers, squirrels, raccoons and magpies locked in a complex planetary cold war, with shifting alliances.
Fair. Don't forget the dolphins and cephalopods duking it out in the ocean. (Also I think bears are one of the stronger contenders on land, ahead of squirrels for sure).
Realistically, though, one of them has to be first, if only by a couple thousand years, and then they'll attain global control sufficient to keep the others from gaining significant power. Much like we did. (though actually the ocean is still a viable second sphere of influence).
> Fair. Don't forget the dolphins and cephalopods duking it out in the ocean.
This kind of thing led to some species thinking it was a great idea to walk on land, and a few billion years later, you have humans all over again. Hopefully they'll avoid this stupid mistake in the next go-around.
It's much more likely that visitors to earth in a few million years will encounter beavers, squirrels, raccoons and magpies locked in a complex planetary cold war, with shifting alliances.