01/21/2026
Happy National Squirrel Appreciation Day! 🐿️ If you’ve been following along, you know our mascot, Earl the Squirrel. He reminds us that curiosity, agility, and preparation are not just traits of squirrels; they are qualities that drive intrepid research and meaningful impact.
To increase awareness and appreciation, here are some fun facts you may not know about these common but fascinating creatures!
1. There are “ground squirrels” and “tree squirrels”. While the two are not mutually exclusive, ground squirrels build burrows underground, while tree squirrels build their nests in trees.
2. Squirrels can be deceptive! Oftentimes, thieves will find their caches of buried nuts. Tree squirrels have been known to throw off thieves by digging holes and covering them, without depositing any nuts.
3. Squirrels were once a rare sight in U.S. cities, until cities decided to build more parks and add squirrels too!
Appreciate your favorite backyard squirrels today, but be careful to only feed them treats from their natural diet!