They get into our bird feeders and spill all the seeds. They dig through our seasonal yard displays and rearrange everything looking for food. Squirrels can indeed be pest and many people do not like them but...they provide us with lots of amusement since we are indoor cats. Especially during this dull time in January when nothing much is going on indoors or out, squirrel TV keeps us entertained.
Squirrel Appreciation Day began in 2001 with a Christy Hargrove, a wildlife rehabber and affiliate of the WNC Nature Center right here in Asheville, NC. Today is a day when we should try to be kind to squirrels - leave out food for them, wish them well and be thankful for their amusing antics during the long cold winters.
Some squirrel trivia -
Gray squirrels come in many colors. Shades of gray are the most common followed by shades of brown. There are also pure white and pure black squirrels, but both are variations of the gray squirrel.The common Red squirrel can have an all black coat. While the Kaibab squirrel has a black body with a white tail. Both are found in coniferous forests.
During winter storms, or severe cold, the squirrel may not leave the nest for days. But,the tree squirrel does not hibernate!
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| Yum..I want to catch that squirrel! |
An adult squirrel normally lives alone. But will, in severe cold, share its nest with other squirrels to conserve body heat. Once the temperature rises, the guests will be on their way.
Squirrels chew on tree branches to sharpen and clean their teeth. That's why you may see many small branches on the ground around large trees. They will also chew on power lines for the same reason, this has caused many major power outages throughout the country.
The squirrel's erratic path while crossing a street is an attempt to confuse the oncoming vehicle... thereby causing it to change direction. This is obliviously the squirrels biggest, and often last mistake
Happy Squirrel Appreciation Day! Do you have a squirrel story you would like to share?
