Squirrel Appreciation Day: 5 Ways To Show A Squirrel You Care (VIDEO)

Thursday is Squirrel Appreciation Day, and though the squirrels may not be aware of it, you can still do your part in letting them know they're loved. We think learning about our animals friends, both exotic and common, are an important part of appreciating the natural world around us.

Just how did squirrels manage to get their own day? They have Christy Hargrove, a wildlife rehabilitator from North Carolina, to thank. Hargrove started Squirrel Appreciation Day on January 21, 2001. Here are some ideas you could use to express your squirrel love:

1. Feed them. All you need is a pine cone and some peanut butter. Spread the peanut butter on the pine cone, hang it from a tree, and your work is done. You could also carry some nuts or seeds in your pocket, just in case you come face to face with one.

2. Educate yourself. Look at that squirrel as more than a just a pest. According to the National Wildlife Federation, when a squirrel hides its food, it pretends to bury it a few times before choosing a final hiding spot. And did you know there are more than 300 different species of squirrel? Find out more here and here.

3. Let them be. If you're a squirrel hater, fight the urge to chase one, throw things at it, etc. Give them their one day of peace.

4. Spread the word. If more people know, more squirrels will feel appreciated.

5. Watch squirrel videos. YouTube is full of videos that will put you in a squirrely mood. Here's a fascinating one of ground squirrels using their bushy tails to fend off a cobra in Africa:

Comments

[Gover]

11:13 AM on 01/22/2010

My parents have "bird" feeders up by they're squirrel feeders. I've never seen fatter squirrels in my life and it's the middle of winter.

The things are so fat, they're actually having trouble making the jump from the house to the feeder now. Probably like 1 in 5 misses the jump now.

Seriously they're like Puffer Fish with squirrel heads and feet instead of spikes.

[quillsinister]

10:38 PM on 01/21/2010

Jeez, I just became aware of penguins, now I have to appreciate squirrels, too?

[Bogstomper]

06:19 PM on 01/21/2010

I rescued a squirrel from my chimney yesterday. Does that still count as squirrel appreciation even if it was a day early?

btw, after I cut a whole in the flue, he wouldn't come out for anything. I tried banging the chimney, poking him with a stick, even using compressed air. What finally worked was lighting six sticks of real heavy, perfumy incense in the fireplace. The squirrel came out about a minute later.

[headly66]

05:05 PM on 01/21/2010

Smart little guys. I had a pet squirrel briefly as a kid. Someone must have put poison out as he was paralyzed from the waste down. He was very friendly and we kept him as warm and comfortable as possible until the he eventually died a few weeks later.

[headly66]

08:41 PM on 01/21/2010

I meant waist.

[jennytaylia]

04:22 PM on 01/21/2010

Discovery Channel ran a two-part series on squirrel intelligence about 10 years ago, called "Daylight Robbery". A very amusing and amazing documentary on squirrels learning to navigate obstacle courses in order to get to goodies! I've raised orphan squirrels, and I adore them; they're so smart, they're as clean as a cat, and wonderfully playful. I still miss my little grey buddy Filbert, 14 years later...

[Mista Dorothy]

04:14 PM on 01/21/2010

I loves me some squirrel!

[Aslanspal]

04:06 PM on 01/21/2010

My brother Ken needs to read this and appreciate our fellow mammals.

[Aslanspal]

04:05 PM on 01/21/2010

My brother Ken needs to see this

[BannedNBoston]

03:56 PM on 01/21/2010

Squirrels love roasted cashews.

[brooklyncitizen]

03:01 PM on 01/21/2010

NYC squirrels are aggressive and fearless. They run towards you rather than away from you.
THey are cute and frequently get into an argument with my cat...it's really weird but in a confrontation they both get really verbal and don't back down.

[sparky73]

02:45 PM on 01/21/2010

not shoot bbs at him or her

[Trilby]

02:01 PM on 01/21/2010

Last week I watched a squirrel that had scored a whole granola bar, still in its wrapper. I have no doubt the little fellow got it open eventually. He was mad excited!

[hypnotoad72]

01:28 PM on 01/21/2010

5 ways?

5. ketchup
4. Horseradish sauce
3. A1 steak sauce
2. nacho queso dip
1. pipzza sauce

Yuuuuuuuummy!

Not really.

Squirrels are cool. Except the red ones for some reason...

[mlaiuppa]

12:35 PM on 01/21/2010

Little known facts.

Did you know all squirrels are named Petey? Even the girls. Yes. My Mother enlightened me to this little know fact.

And they all have arthritis. Look at a squirrels hands when they're eating a treat. Told you. 'Nuff said.

[babyboomerorig]

12:24 PM on 01/21/2010

I have squirrel appreciation day every day. I put food out on top of the snow for the birds and 2 squirrel regulars take their share....and probably some other animal's share, too.