Supporting our friends on National Squirrel Appreciation Day

Squirrels
A squirrel in St. Petersburg, FL

What do you really know about squirrels? Besides the fact they are cuter than cute?

Did you know that the earliest squirrel likely existed as long ago as 50 million years? The early squirrels lived during the Eocene period and would be closely related to today’s mountain beaver or dormouse.

Today is National Squirrel Appreciation Day. Have you hugged a squirrel yet? Wait, don’t do that. Just admire and appreciate them.

Squirrels are part of the Sciuridae family. Joining them are their relatives – ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, woodchucks, flying squirrels and prairie dogs. That could explain my fascination with prairie dogs.

I used to think squirrels fell into family groups of red, brown, grey and black. In fact, there are almost 300 species of squirrels.

Our family has an affection for squirrels. This grew from daughter Mallory’s love of the little rodents. Her mom usually has a family of squirrels living in a hole in the front yard tree. Hazel was the mom of the bunch that lived there a couple of years ago. Kathy feeds them on a regular basis, ranging from peanuts and sunflower seeds to ears of corn.

Squirrels
Hazel the Squirrel

Two years ago, Hazel had a litter that occupied the tree. Hazel has been friendly, and her children continued that relationship as they grew.

Squirrels
One of Hazel’s babies peaking out of their home

We have enjoyed the squirrels that have lived in our backyard. We used to have a red squirrel and black squirrel occupying each of the Oak trees. They would chase each other through both trees.

Squirrels
Black squirrel

Our dogs would alert on the squirrels when they were in the backyard. One of them, Sasha, loved chasing the squirrels. Squirrels would taunt her by waiting to take off until she got near them. Then, as they climbed the trees, they would turn and chirp at her. It was always funny to watch, because she was so focused on them, it looked like she was listening to them.

I always feel bad for them during the winter, when I see their fur flowing with the wind.

Squirrels
Winter squirrel

We had a squirrel dine on the remains of a Kit Kat candy bar wrapper. He cleaned that thing off before letting it go and moving on to his next meal.

Squirrels
Everybody loves a Kit Kat!

As we travel around, we’ve seen some really cute squirrels in entertaining poses.

In downtown Omaha, we caught a squirrel chewing on the wiring for the city’s holiday lights in the Gene Leahy Park. It was determined in achieving its goal.

Squirrels
Yummy wires

We fell in love with a squirrel at the Oklahoma City zoo. He was eating his way through a pumpkin that was set out for the fall season. I wasn’t sure if he’d stop eating the seeds until they were all gone.

Squirrels
Nom Nom Nom Nom

In New Mexico, we spent several minutes during a hike to get some photos of squirrels. They didn’t stay in one spot very long. We finally lucked out when one squirrel took a few minutes to eat lunch while sitting on a tree stump.

Squirrels
This is one of my all-time favorite photos (New Mexico squirrel)

We can watch squirrels for a long time. We love the way they look and their mannerisms.

Here are some fun facts about squirrels (according to the National Wildlife Federation – http://blog.nwf.org/2015/01/10-nutty-facts-to-make-you-appreciate-squirrels/):

  • Squirrels can find food buried beneath a foot of snow.

Food is important during the cold winter months for squirrels. It makes sense, therefore, that some species are able to smell food under a foot of snow. The squirrel will then dig a tunnel under the snow, following the scent to their (or another squirrel’s) buried treasure

Squirrels
Winter dining
  • A squirrel’s front teeth never stop growing.

This is a common characteristic of other rodents, as well. The word “rodent” actually derives from the Latin “rodere,” which means to gnaw.

  • Squirrels may lose 25% of their buried food to thieves.

And that’s just from members of their own species! Scatter hoarders (squirrels with multiple caches of food) have a difficult time keeping an eye on all of their hidden food. Fellow squirrels or birds often take advantage of this for a free meal.

  • They zigzag to escape predators.

When squirrels feel threatened, they run away in a zigzag pattern. This is an incredibly useful strategy to escape hawks and other predators. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work so well on cars. Consider slowing down and giving squirrels a brake!

  • Squirrels may pretend to bury a nut to throw off potential thieves.

Squirrels have been observed engaging in “deceptive caching.” This is where a squirrel digs a hole and vigorously covers it up again, but without depositing the nut. It seems this is done to throw off potential food thieves.

Squirrels
Eat it? Bury it? Hmmmm, what to do?
  • A newborn squirrel is about an inch long.

If you come across one of these itty-bitty baby squirrels, please consult these resources, which will advise you what to do. That will help give the baby squirrel its best chance at survival.

  • Humans introduced squirrels to most of our major city parks.

The story about why U.S. parks are full of squirrels is truly fascinating and worth a read.

  • Squirrels are acrobatic, intelligent and adaptable.

If you’re not convinced, try to hang a bird feeder without these bandits giving you a challenge.

Squirrels
Very agile
  • They get bulky to stay warm during the winter.

Putting on some extra weight is one strategy squirrels use to stay warm during the cold winter months.

Squirrels
Brrrrr
  • Squirrels don’t dig up all of their buried nuts, which results in more trees!

They have accidentally contributed countless trees to our nation’s forests. If you ask me, that’s a pretty great reason to appreciate squirrels.

Squirrels
Squirrels can help create trees

So, as you celebrate National Squirrel Appreciation Day, remember that squirrels are our friends (at least for the Trudells). Have a great day!