Today is a giant day for squirrels. Listed here are 5 enjoyable info in regards to the rodent | story

Squirrel Appreciation Day celebrates twenty fifth anniversary

You’ve been ready all 12 months, and now it’s lastly time to present a giant shoutout to one of the crucial generally seen creatures throughout our nation.

Today is Squirrel Appreciation Day, which has been celebrated since 2001 in line with The National Day Calendar.

The day, in line with the web site, was created by American Wildlife Rehabilitator Christy Hargrove as a solution to rejoice and acknowledge a rodent that’s so acquainted to many people. 

In honour of our furry mates, let’s check out 5 enjoyable and unusual info you could not have recognized.

1. Groundhogs, prairie Dogs, and chipmunks are squirrels

There are literally greater than 250 various kinds of squirrels throughout the planet.

The American pink squirrel, seen right here, is present in each province and territory throughout Canada.  (Image credit score: Brian Keating)

That consists of greater than 20 completely different species that exist throughout Canada.

2. There are flying squirrels throughout Canada

There are three species of flying squirrels discovered throughout Canada.

Those embrace the Northern flying squirrel, the Southern flying squirrel, and the not too long ago named Humboldt’s flying squirrel, which was as soon as considered a variant of the Northern breed. 

The Humboldt’s flying squirrel is discovered on the Pacific coast between southern B.C. and northern California, and was solely not too long ago categorised in 2017. (Image credit score: Nick Kerhoulas)

The motive you won’t have seen one earlier than is as a result of they’re nocturnal, which means they solely come out at evening. 

Their identify is deceptive, nonetheless. Flying squirrels don’t truly fly, however as an alternative use flaps of pores and skin between their forelegs and again legs to glide by the air.

Some species can glide virtually 450 metres. 

3. Squirrels are available in many sizes

African pigmy squirrels are the smallest squirrels on the planet, and develop to about 10 centimetres lengthy.

In comparability, the most important are the enormous squirrels of Asia, which may develop to a few metre in size.

4. Black squirrels aren’t a factor

In some components of Canada, it’s fairly widespread to see jet-black squirrels roaming round.

Black squirrels aren’t their very own species. They are a novel genetic expression of one in every of two sorts of squirrels.  (Image credit score: Jason Lowther/CBC)

But there’s no such factor as a black squirrel species.

They are, as an alternative, both an Eastern gray squirrel or fox squirrel which have extra melanin of their fur, which is a pigment produced in animals that provides pores and skin and hair its color. 

5. Squirrels plant 1000’s of timber annually

If governments all over the world aren’t doing sufficient to guard the surroundings, fortunately squirrels are doing their half.

That’s as a result of squirrels abandon — and in some instances, fully overlook about — the nuts and acorns they bury underground, resulting in the start of many timber annually.

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TOP IMAGE CREDIT: Ivanoh Demers/CBC/Radio-Canada