It's January 21 again, and that means it's Squirrel Appreciation Day!
There is no shortage of interesting tales about this adorable and spunky critter, whether the story of the squirrel who fought off crows to defend his fallen friend, or the cat that raised a baby squirrel and taught it to purr.
This mid-winter day is the perfect time to give thanks for the furry little friends we might otherwise take for granted. And while they may be seen as pests or a nuisance on other occasions, use Squirrel Appreciation Day to show some love for them in all of their animal beauty, and throw a couple of nuts their way while you're at it!
According to the NWF, Squirrel Appreciation Day was created by Christy Hargrove, a wildlife rehabilitator from North Carolina, in 2001.
Check out some incredible photos of this diverse and amazing species below, and CLICK HERE for more tips on how you can celebrate Squirrel Appreciation Day.
Squirrel Appreciation Day
High five photobomb(02 of99)
The squirrel "duderino" high fives an unsuspecting squirrel tourist.
Godzilla Eats Squirrel(05 of99)
Matt Twain:
Godzilla is desperate for anything these days...
Godzilla is desperate for anything these days...
the real Avatar(07 of99)
Youve seen them in red, black, and white, now its time to see whats really up in those trees!
Harry Potter Squirrel(09 of99)
Paint touch-up of squirrel about to eat...Harry Potter look out!
Sweet Ride, but that squirrel is a Jerk!(10 of99)
This guy drives through my neighborhood like he's nuts!
Squirrel Threatens Dog (Animated GIF)(11 of99)
Make sure there a bite behind your bark.
Fast Food Squirrel(15 of99)
Hey, a squirrel can't survive on nuts alone (Bronx Zoo)
Say what?(19 of99)
Marybeth Sanders:
OMG!!! She said what?!? Squirrel I stalked at the Dallas Arboretum.
OMG!!! She said what?!? Squirrel I stalked at the Dallas Arboretum.
SQUIRREL UNLEASHED(23 of99)
Ritter Park in Huntington, West Virginia (June 2010) Photo by Laura Treacy Bentley
Tired Squirrel(24 of99)
Squirrel In Bloomington, Indiana grabbing a quick cup of coffee on the campus of Indiana University.
Eddy Hall Feeds Squirrels In St James Park(25 of99)
LONDON - OCTOBER 21: A squirrel eats a nut while sitting on the hat of Eddy Hall in St Jame's Park on October 21, 2004 in London, England. Hall, an eccentric London resident known affectionately as 'The Squirrel Man' by St James's Park workers has come to the central London park near Buckingham Palace to feed the local squirrels nuts almost every day for the past 14 years. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Eddy Hall Feeds Squirrels In St James Park(26 of99)
LONDON - OCTOBER 21: A squirrel runs down the face of Eddy Hall in St James's Park on October 21, 2004 in London, England. Hall, an eccentric London resident known affectionately as Eddy 'The Squirrel Man' by St James's Park workers has come to the central London park near Buckingham Palace to feed the local squirrels nuts almost every day for the past 14 years. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Tourists And Visitors In London(27 of99)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Geese and a squirrel look for food from a visitor to St James' Park on October 22, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Two squirrels play in Los Angeles, Calif(28 of99)
Two squirrels play in Los Angeles, California on May 13, 2010. The California ground squirrel is a common and easily observed ground squirrel of the western United States. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A baby squirrel is seen in Los Angeles,(29 of99)
A baby squirrel is seen in Los Angeles, California on September 7, 2009. Recently, in the City of Santa Monica, California, officials came up with a novel way to control the squirrel population in Palisades Park. County officials are concerned that the squirrels pose a danger to public health, but the city wants a more humane solution to the problem than the usual method of euthanasia. Instead, they are opting to give the squirrels a contraceptive vaccine. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A kitten plays with a squirrel, which wa(30 of99)
A kitten plays with a squirrel, which was rescued off the streets in Envigado, Antioquia Department, Colombia, on February 16, 2010. AFP PHOTO/Raul ARBOLEDA (Photo credit should read RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Autumn Colours Tint The British Midlands(31 of99)
BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - NOVEMBER 09: A Squirrel collects leaves at Cannon Hill Park on November 09, 2005 in Birmingham, England. As the Autumn season draws to an end, UK weather forecasters are predicting that Britain could be facing one of the coldest winters in a decade. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A squirrel stands on its hind legs as it(32 of99)
New York, UNITED STATES: A squirrel stands on its hind legs as it looks for food in New York's Central Park, 05 January 2007, as the northeast basks in unusually warm temperatures. Blossoms appeared on a cherry tree in New York's Central Park, which usually bloom at the beginning of spring. New York and the rest of the east coast have thus far experienced an abnormally mild winter. Partly blaming global warming, British climate scientists predict that 2007 could be the world's hottest year on record. The current warmest year on record is 1998, when the average global temperature was 1.2 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the long-term average of 57 Fahrenheit (13.8 Celcius). AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A squirrel sits a mans hand in a park in(33 of99)
A squirrel sits a mans hand in a park in Moscow on December 30, 2010. Icy rain fell in Moscow, covering streets, trees and cars with ice while temperatures dropped to -7 C (18 F). AFP PHOTO / NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA (Photo credit should read NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A squirrel sits a mans hand in a park in(34 of99)
A squirrel sits a mans hand in a park in Moscow on December 30, 2010. Icy rain fell in Moscow, covering streets, trees and cars with ice while temperatures dropped to -7 C (18 F). AFP PHOTO / NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA (Photo credit should read NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A squirrel sits on an ice covered branch(35 of99)
A squirrel sits on an ice covered branch in a park in Moscow on December 30, 2010. Icy rain fell in Moscow, covering streets, trees and cars with ice while temperatures dropped to -7 C (18 F). AFP PHOTO / NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA (Photo credit should read NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A squirrel sits on an ice covered branch(36 of99)
A squirrel sits on an ice covered branch in a park in Moscow on December 30, 2010. Icy rain fell in Moscow, covering streets, trees and cars with ice while temperatures dropped to -7 C (18 F). AFP PHOTO / NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA (Photo credit should read NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A squirrel runs through the snow in Sain(37 of99)
A squirrel runs through the snow in Saint James' Park, central London, on December 18, 2010. Britain was hit on December 18 by more blizzards that shut down one major airport and forced airlines to scrap flights on what is traditionally the busiest weekend for travellers before Christmas. London Gatwick, Europe's eighth-busiest passenger airport, shut its runway until at least 1500 GMT, warning that 'further significant snowfall' was expected. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A squirrel climbs on a tree at the Yildi(38 of99)
A squirrel climbs on a tree at the Yildiz park in Istanbul, on November 21, 2010. AFP PHOTO/ MUSTAFA OZER (Photo credit should read MUSTAFA OZER/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A black squirrel sits on a park bench in(39 of99)
A black squirrel sits on a park bench in Lafayette Park on November 8, 2010 in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/Karen BLEIER (Photo credit should read KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A squirrel is runs in a Moscow park on O(40 of99)
A squirrel is runs in a Moscow park on October 31, 2010. AFP PHOTO / NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA (Photo credit should read NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A squirrel eats a nut in a Moscow park o(41 of99)
A squirrel eats a nut in a Moscow park on October 31, 2010. AFP PHOTO / NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA (Photo credit should read NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Tourists And Visitors In London(42 of99)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Two squirrels look for food from a visitor to St James' Park on October 22, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Tourists And Visitors In London(43 of99)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: A tourist feeds a squirrel in St James' Park on October 22, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A man feeds a squirrel in a park in cent(44 of99)
A man feeds a squirrel in a park in central Minsk on October 18, 2010. AFP PHOTO / VIKTOR DRACHEV (Photo credit should read VIKTOR DRACHEV/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Scenes Of India(45 of99)
AGRA, INDIA - SEPTEMBER 29: A squirrel climbs a tree in front of the Taj Mahal on September 29, 2010 in Agra, India. Completed in 1643, the mausoleum was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who is buried there alongside Jahan. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Two squirrels play in Los Angeles, Calif(46 of99)
Two squirrels play in Los Angeles, California on May 13, 2010. The California ground squirrel is a common and easily observed ground squirrel of the western United States. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A squirrel foraging for food on Septembe(47 of99)
A squirrel foraging for food on September 16, 2009 in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/Karen BLEIER (Photo credit should read KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A baby squirrel is seen in Los Angeles,(48 of99)
A baby squirrel is seen in Los Angeles, California on September 7, 2009. Recently, in the City of Santa Monica, California, officials came up with a novel way to control the squirrel population in Palisades Park. County officials are concerned that the squirrels pose a danger to public health, but the city wants a more humane solution to the problem than the usual method of euthanasia. Instead, they are opting to give the squirrels a contraceptive vaccine. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A squirrel eats a nut at its enclosure a(49 of99)
A squirrel eats a nut at its enclosure at a squirrel breeding centre in the central German town of Alsbach-Haehnlein on April 6, 2009. AFP PHOTO DDP / THOMAS LOHNES GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read THOMAS LOHNES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Transitions Championship - Round One(50 of99)
PALM HARBOR, FL - MARCH 19: A fox squirrel watches the action on the 9th hole during the first round of the Transitions Championship at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club on March 19, 2009 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A squirrel eats a nut after awaking from(51 of99)
A squirrel eats a nut after awaking from its winter hibernation in Berlin on February 27, 2009. Temperatures are up in Germany giving a hint of the coming spring. AFP PHOTO DDP/ THEO HEIMANN GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read THEO HEIMANN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Report Finds Urban Dwellers Suffer Green Space Poverty(52 of99)
LONDON - OCTOBER 27: An elderly gentleman feeds a squirrel in the autum sunshine in St James Park on October 27, 2008 in London, England. National Trust survey suggests that across England, Wales and Northern Ireland one in eight have to suffer from green place poverty, in that they have access to two or fewer green spaces. Says that the top reasons given for visiting open spaces were to experience fresh air and space, for relaxation and to see wildlife. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A red squirrel climbs a tree at the Roya(53 of99)
A red squirrel climbs a tree at the Royal park in Aranjuez, 29 October 2007. AFP PHOTO/ Pedro ARMESTRE (Photo credit should read PEDRO ARMESTRE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
California Turns To Birth Control To Stop Squirrel Overpopulation(54 of99)
SANTA MONICA, CA - MARCH 06: A ground squirrel looks for food at Palisades Park where the city plans to give the squirrels birth control shots to prevent a population boom on March 6, 2007 in Santa Monica, California. The city has been cited five times by the county for squirrel overpopulation. The squirrels are breeding now, from February to April, but plans call for squirrels to be injected this summer with an immuno-contraceptive vaccine developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture called GonaCon to stop ovulation and lactation in female squirrels and halt testicular development in males. The city has used poison, gassing, and euthanasia to control the population but those actions angered pro-animal activists who favor non-lethal methods. Berkeley, California is the only other city to use this method so far. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A squirrel stands and begs for food in B(55 of99)
New York, UNITED STATES: A squirrel stands and begs for food in Battery Park, 07 February 2007, in the lower Manhattan area of New York as below freezing temperatures continue across the northern US. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Chrysler Championship - Round Three(56 of99)
PALM HARBOR, FL - OCTOBER 29: A fox squirrel is seen during the third round of the Chrysler Championship at the Westin Innisbrook Resort on October 29, 2005 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Hurricane Katrina victim Sondra Sercovic(57 of99)
Covington, UNITED STATES: Hurricane Katrina victim Sondra Sercovich from Mandeville, Louisiana, waits in line for a food stamp application 08 September, 2005, and shows off her new furry friend 'Peanut', a 4-week old baby squirrel she rescued after the hurricane. The animal lover who has 11 cats, 12 tortoises, three dogs, two chameleons, and five children, has been keeping the squirrel warm on her chest, and will be intregrating the squirrel into the family. ,AFP Photo/PAUL J. RICHARDS (Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Red Squirrel in Zion National Park(58 of99)
Beth Schaefer Studt:
Snacking on a Columbine
Snacking on a Columbine
6 week old baby squirrel that was rescued after she fell out of her nest(59 of99)
Beth Schaefer Studt:
I found this little girl running in the road in our housing development in Southeastern, Pennsylvania. She spent the afternoon sleeping before I took her to a wildlife rehab specialist.
I found this little girl running in the road in our housing development in Southeastern, Pennsylvania. She spent the afternoon sleeping before I took her to a wildlife rehab specialist.
Bunny-Squirrel(60 of99)
She wouldn't get off my kitchen table so I gave her the old 'dress her in bunny ears' punishment...
Roll Tide Alabama Squirrel(61 of99)
After rehabilitating and freeing this squirrel from a baby, this Alabama girl holds squirrel for last time before he successfully becomes too wild.
Fat Squirrels Are the Best Squirrels(64 of99)
CoffeeOnIce:
A chubby squirrel by the White House, Washington, D.C.
A chubby squirrel by the White House, Washington, D.C.
Squirrel wishing me a Happy Birthday(65 of99)
Met this little dude on my 28th Birthday at the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden on October 21st 2010.
me and Skimbleshanks!(67 of99)
me and my buddy Skimbleshanks, the squirrel I rescued as a days old infant and cared for in my home until his release in the backyard a few months later. He was an amazing friend! I loved him so much.
Momo the Squirrel(68 of99)
Camille Trejo:
Momo, my adorable squirrel who I apopted when one day, as a baby in the park, she ran up to me, up my shoulder and jumped down my shirt and fell asleep, like it was her home. I kid you not. How am I supposed to turn that down?
Momo, my adorable squirrel who I apopted when one day, as a baby in the park, she ran up to me, up my shoulder and jumped down my shirt and fell asleep, like it was her home. I kid you not. How am I supposed to turn that down?
Itchy Jimmy(70 of99)
Suzan Minor Bartels:
Shot outside of the Mercer Museum in Doylestown, PA 11-02-07
Shot outside of the Mercer Museum in Doylestown, PA 11-02-07
Soggy Santa(71 of99)
"And if I'm not being too greedy, a rain bonnet please."Christmas at the Bad Manors Squirrel Diner on Ustream.
Black Squirrel(72 of99)
Georgeanna Piazza:
Black Squirrel looking for food on his home turf in Brentwood, NY (Long Island) :)
Black Squirrel looking for food on his home turf in Brentwood, NY (Long Island) :)
Clumsy Squirrel at Corncob Feeder(75 of99)
This squirrel fought off birds, bees and hummingbirds daily feeding on corn kernels and drinking from he hummingbird feeder.
Squirrel summits(79 of99)
Kathy Vespaziani:
I captured this guy just as he reached the top of a fence post, and
I captured this guy just as he reached the top of a fence post, and
Squirrel greets visitor.(80 of99)
Laura Koppang:
Curious squirrel in Washington D.C. greets a Flat Stella visiting from Dallas, Texas.
Curious squirrel in Washington D.C. greets a Flat Stella visiting from Dallas, Texas.
Squirrel's Halloween(81 of99)
I opened the door on Halloween and there was this trick-or-treater, so we did a video shoot in the yard.
Squirrel looking down on us...(82 of99)
Pasadena, CA: A squirrel eating a nut on a branch looks down on us while we walk the trails in Lower Arroyo Seco Natural Park in Pasadena, CA
alberta and i(85 of99)
my squirrel, alberta. raised from a baby, now 3 years old. named after alberto ascari, the first man to drive a ferrari to a world championship.
Mutual Fascination(87 of99)
Lili meets squirrel. Squirrel meets Lili. Loring Park, Minneapolis. Summer 2010.
Urban Squirrel(88 of99)
Lorrie Grace McCann:
Squirrel on the go -- This type of caffeine-fueled Nike-wearing iced coffee-sipping furry creature can be found in most urban settings, but especially in cities like Chicago and New York City, where vast green spaces are scarce and people are many.
Squirrel on the go -- This type of caffeine-fueled Nike-wearing iced coffee-sipping furry creature can be found in most urban settings, but especially in cities like Chicago and New York City, where vast green spaces are scarce and people are many.
Nico(89 of99)
This little guy visited me at work, daily. Loring Park, Minneapolis.
Our good friend visits us again and pciks up lunch on our balcony in Hamburg, Germany(92 of99)
Pushing car(94 of99)
Pushing the car out the morning after a Midwest blizzard...
Monsieur Squirrel, Taunter of Cats(96 of99)
Roxanne Wade:
Monsieur Squirrel, Taunter of Cats
Monsieur Squirrel, Taunter of Cats
Gluttonous squirrel freezes to death(97 of99)
Brian Stink Fischer:
This is not photoshopped. The squirrel jumped from the pine tree to the bird feeder andgot its paws wedged in the bars. When I came home from work, the squirrel had already froze to death.
This is not photoshopped. The squirrel jumped from the pine tree to the bird feeder andgot its paws wedged in the bars. When I came home from work, the squirrel had already froze to death.
110126 Skippy in the hack(98 of99)
Skippy and his pals are taking us the country's hottest sport - curling.
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