Squirrel Appreciation Day

Today, January 21, is national Squirrel Appreciation Day. These small, furry creatures are found throughout the world and in many sizes, shapes and colors.  Although sometimes a pest, few can say that these cousins of rats aren't at least a little cute. Squirrel Appreciation Day was created by Christy Hargrove, a wildlife rehabilitator from Asheville, North Carolina. Started in 2001, Christy says the, "celebration of the event itself is up to the individual or group." Read the original store here.

Some squirrel facts from nwf.org:

• There are more than 300 species of squirrel.
• Different types of squirrels range in size from five inches (the African pygmy squirrel) to three feet (Indian giant squirrel).
• The word "squirrel" comes from the Greek word skiouros, which means shadow-tailed.
• Squirrels have brought down the NASDAQ stock market twice, once in 1987 and once in 1994.