Here is a quick history, fun facts, and why these busy critters deserve some love
A Quick History:
Squirrel Appreciation Day is celebrated on January 21. It was started in 2001 by wildlife rehabilitator Christy Hargrove, who wanted people to pause and notice squirrels not as pests – but as clever, resilient animals that quietly help ecosystems thrive.
It’s a low-key, feel-good holiday with one mission: notice the squirrel, soften your heart.
Fun Facts About Squirrels (they’re more impressive than they look)
- They forget a lot – and that’s good. Squirrels don’t remember where every nut is buried. Those forgotten seeds often sprout into trees.
- Their tails are multitools. A squirrel’s tail works as a balance pole, blanket, parachute, and communication flag.
- They can fake you out. Some squirrels perform decoy burials when they feel watched – pretending to hide a nut to throw off thieves.
- They’re excellent planners. Squirrels scatter-hoard food across many locations to reduce the risk of losing everything at once.
- They’re surprisingly smart. Studies show squirrels can solve puzzles, remember routes, and adapt quickly to new environments.
Why Squirrels Bury Nuts (and why it matters)
Squirrels bury nuts as a future food supply, especially for winter when food is scarce. This behavior is called scatter hoarding.
Here’s the positive side effect:
- Not all nuts are retrieved
- Forgotten nuts germinate
- New trees grow
In short: squirrels accidentally reforest the world.
Many oak forests exist today largely because of squirrels doing what squirrels do best—planning for tomorrow and forgetting a little along the way.
Why We Shouldn’t Hate Them (even when they dig up the lawn)
Yes, squirrels:
- Dig holes
- Steal birdseed
- Rearrange your mulch like interior designers on espresso
But they also:
- Improve soil aeration
- Spread native plants
- Support forest regeneration
- Serve as prey for owls, hawks, and foxes—supporting the whole food web
They’re not trying to ruin your garden. They’re participating in it.
If a garden is a shared ecosystem – and it is – then squirrels are enthusiastic, chaotic volunteers.
A Gentler Reframe
Instead of seeing squirrels as:
“Annoying nut thieves”
Think of them as:
“Tiny, anxious land stewards with very poor memory”
Squirrel Appreciation Day is an invitation to notice them, laugh a little, and recognize that much of what grows tomorrow exists because someone buried something today and didn’t come back for it.
Which, honestly, feels like a metaphor worth keeping
