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| All photos by Jonathan Schechter Oakland County, Michigan |
Squirrel Appreciation Day is here; like those little creatures or not. January 21st is the day to look at America's favorite rodent as something other than pancake-flat road kill, a clever bird feeder-robber or free entertainment for a frustrated window watching cat. Take time today to appreciate their adaptability and ability to not just survive but thrive in our midst. This slightly nutty 'holiday' is saluted by the National Wildlife Federation and was founded in 2001 by Christy Hargrove, a wildlife rehabilitator in North Carolina. Despite the fact that many nut crazed hungry squirrels fail to look both ways before crossing a highway even squirrel haters should salute these creatures that bury nuts; helping to spread trees to areas where the nuts did not fall. In Oakland County the squirrels seen in winter are the evergreen tree loving red squirrels, the rusty orange colored fox squirrel (Above; obese fox squirrel after dumpster-diving for muffin remains) and the gray squirrel, a squirrel of the great American hardwood forests that is sometimes jet black. We are also home to the northern flying squirrel; a nocturnal creature that is more common than many realize! Our local chipmunks are seldom seen in winter and our 13 lined ground squirrel are under ground snoozing until spring thaw. Today belongs to squirrels. Treat them at the feeder today.
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