Squirrel Appreciation Day

National Squirrel Appreciation Day

National Squirrel Appreciation Day is an annual celebration observed on January 21st of every year. Everything from the cute big eyes with little standing ears and the fluffy-tailed hair of the squirrel look beautiful. The nut-burying herbivorous animal that lives in the dray plays an important role in the environment. It is indeed vital to appreciate and acknowledge these scampering animals for their active role. National Squirrel Appreciation Day is created in such a way to appreciate all the different types of squirrel.

“A squirrel is just a rat with a cuter outfit !” – Sarah Jessica Parker

History of National Squirrel Appreciation Day

The National Squirrel Appreciation Day has been celebrated since the year 2001. Christy Hargrove from Asheville, North Carolina is the founder of this celebration Day. The creator is a wildlife rehabilitator in North Carolina and he is affiliated with the Western North Carolina Nature Center. Christy says that Celebration of this event itself is up to the individual or group and anything from putting out some extra food for the squirrels to learning something new about those species. He has created this Day as to make people put out some seeds and nuts for squirrels as they suffer without having food during this month due to the winter. It is a Day for all the different types of squirrels like tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, flying squirrels, and prairie dogs.

Squirrels range from a few inches to a few feet long and are found almost everywhere. They are indigenous to Americas, Africa, and Eurasia. They were introduced by the humans to Australia. Western and eastern grey squirrels are very common in North America. The red squirrel is more common in Europe, however, it is declining in numbers in Great Britain and Ireland. A squirrel weighs from 5 to 8 kg and will usually have slender bodies with bushy tails and large eyes. They live from tropical rainforest to semiarid desert. Squirrels are predominantly herbivorous which eats seeds and nuts. It will also eat insects and even small vertebrates.

How to Celebrate National Squirrel Appreciation Day

Celebrating the National Squirrel Appreciation Day is very simple. Get yourself involved to know more about squirrels and its types in detail. Have some seeds and nuts as a food for the squirrels in your backyard or garden. Take a visit to the local zoo to know about their living. Paint squirrel pictures or some other artwork as a way to appreciate them. Share your appreciations for the squirrels on the social media using the hashtag #SquirrelAppreciationDay.