On Squirrel Appreciation Day: Honoring America’s Kaibab Squirrel

(PHOTO CREDIT: Kaibab Squirrel at Grand Canyon, originally uploaded by Live Simply.)

The kaibab squirrel is a white-tailed squirrel found only in the Grand Canyon region of Arizona.

Today, on Squirrel Appreciation Day, the workers of the Kaibab National Forest designated more than 200,000 acres of the parks to the kaibab squirrel. In response, Squirrels Squirrels Squirrels hereby bequeaths a giant acorn to the KNF!

From the Prescott Daily Courier:

“Dr. Joseph D. Hall, who conducted [an] evaluation on the squirrel and its habitat, stated that the Kaibab squirrel is, in a local way, as significant a species as the finches Charles Darwin studied on the Galapagos Islands.

Like the finches of the Galapagos, natural geographic boundaries including the Grand Canyon have restricted the Kaibab squirrel’s movement and allowed it to evolve into the species seen today.”

Finally: My Own Squirrel Photo!!!

I love squirrels but I don’t live near any, meaning I don’t get to enjoy them on a daily basis.

But this week we’re house-sitting in Coyoacan, a neighborhood in southern Mexico City. And there’s several fantastic, noisy, social squirrels roaming about the property, enjoying the lush gardens. One of them (below) looks like a typical squirrel, the other one is dark brown and has a very thin tail – not sure what species he/she is. They are having a fun time barking at my dog, who, in turn, is barking back.

They’re also falling prey to my lens!

Pete the Purple Squirrel Stumps Students

The Daily Mail has an article today on Pete, a squirrel that hangs around a school in Hampshire, U.K.

What makes Pete so interesting is that he’s purple:

Read the article to find out what may be behind Pete’s purple coat! And here are more photos.

A Very Fat Squirrel – He’s Ready for Winter!

From Flickr user finofilka.

How Do I Get This Snow Off My Nose?

(How Do I Get This Snow Off My Nose?, originally uploaded by Crikit (Lori G).)

Too fracking cute!

Happy Thanksgiving, Ya’ll!

Tomi, originally uploaded by red R.

A beautiful red squirrel photo from red R Flickr user. Gorgeous shot!

Urban Squirrel Seeks High Fashion

(Urban Squirrel, originally uploaded by dooogewalah.)

Costa Rican Squirrels Are Pretty

Indigenous Squirrel , originally uploaded by Charles Holmes.

What a lovely coat! Thanks Charles!

It’s That Time of Year: Squirrels Attacking Pumpkins!

He Strikes Again…, originally uploaded by He chose…poorly.

Squirrel Kebabs Don’t Make for Good Photos (or food?)

As if British food doesn’t already have a bad reputation, a chef in the U.K. had to go along and:

• create “squirrel kebabs” and put it on the menu
• pose with a photo of a skinned, headless squirrel carcass in the U.K. Sun in what may be the most unappetizing food photo ever (do not click through unless you are prepared to be disturbed. Or are disturbed).

Full story: Chili Sauce With Your Squirrel?