SAXTON B. LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
319 Route 87 Columbia, CT 06237
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JANUARY 20, 2010
Squirrel Appreciation Day

Tomorrow, Jan 21st, is Squirrel Appreciation Day. I know that some people don’t like squirrels, but I am not one. I find them quite charming.   Okay, so their brain is the size of a walnut and they do come from the rodent family, but there are many things that make the squirrel great.

 They are one of the few wild animals that have adapted to humans and coexist with us reasonably well. Of course, they have had much time to practice. The gray squirrel has been traced back over 50 million years.
 
Although known for raiding bird feeders, squirrels can actually be very congenial. Although an adult squirrel normally lives alone, in severe cold it will share its nest with other squirrels. If it’s a storm, the squirrels may not leave the nest for days, but once the temperature rises, the guests will be on their way.
 
Really, our little furry friends get a bad rap. If their nest gets infested with fleas, they move!  Their erratic path while crossing the street is believed to really be an attempt to confuse the car. Clearly, this doesn’t work, but still… Squirrel bites occur when people try to feed them by hand holding the food between their fingers. As a squirrel’s eyes are located at the sides of their head, they can’t see what their eating that well.
 
I’m glad there is Squirrel Appreciation Day and if you feel the same, come by the library and check out some squirrel books!
 
 
 


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Comments

Mercedes said, on Jan. 26 at 6:54AM
My husband has always liked squirrels. He also finds them fascinating. I agree they can be fun to watch but darn it, leave my bird feeder alone!!!

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CarolK said, on Jan. 27 at 10:25AM
I think you've got to be retired to truly appreciate squirrels. By this I mean you need to be able to stop and smell the roses or in this case have lots of time on your hands so you can sit by the window or outside on the deck and watch the antics of these guys. My dad and now my husband (retired) both have wonderful stories to tell about how clever and down right fun they are to watch. We've got squirrel guards on our bird feeder and each year we get a new crop of young ones that think they are going to be able to beat the system. It's hilarious and often creative to see how they attack the problem. None have succeeded but they do get to feed off the ground and we usually add crackers and other snacks for them to pick on. When I retire I know I'll spend more time watching squirrels. They are neat! So Happy Squirrel Day to all my furry buddies. Another book in our collection that is worth the read: The natural history of squirrels / John Gurnell 599.3232 GUR

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