Many people see squirrels as annoyances that have to be endured. They are often seen as “tree rats” that run out in front of people’s cars, get into bird feeders, or rain down acorns on people’s heads. Most people don’t see them as an important part of nature, yet they most definitely are just that.

It’s been estimated that the world’s squirrel population plants over a billion trees a year. This is due to the fact that many squirrels plant acorns in the ground to save them for use as food during the winter.

Fortunately for the world’s ecosystem, the majority of these acorns and seeds are forgotten about and end up growing into trees. And it’s for this reason alone that we should celebrate October as Squirrel Awareness Month and give squirrels the praise they deserve.

The History Of Squirrel Awareness Month

This month was created by Greg Basset while he was visiting the Grand Canyon in Arizona in 1995. According to his story, he saw a squirrel gesture to him and that changed the course of his entire life. When he returned back to his home in Chicago, Illinois, he created the Squirrel Lover Club. This club would eventually create Squirrel Awareness Month and the rest is history.

Amazing Facts About Squirrels

Squirrels are pretty amazing creatures in our opinion, so we couldn’t resist learning a lot more about them. We did a bit of Internet research and uncovered the following amazing facts about squirrels. Facts that we’re now going to share with everyone enjoying Squirrel Awareness Month.

• There are more than 278 different squirrel species on the planet.
• Squirrels live in cities, Arctic tundra, rainforests, and on farms.
• Squirrels’ teeth grow at a rate of 6-inches per year. Only their constant gnawing prevents them from becoming too long.
• The word squirrel comes from the Greek words “skia” and “oura.” These two words combine to mean “shadow tail.”
• Gray squirrels were almost wiped from some cities during the mid-19th century, but efforts were made to bring them back.
• Most squirrels do not hibernate for the winter, but there are a few that do.
• Flying squirrels don’t fly but actually glide.

Observing Squirrel Awareness Month

During this month people should take the time to learn more about squirrels. People should also take photos of squirrels in their neighborhoods and post them on social media using the hashtag #SquirrelAwarenessMonth. People may also want to take some time and leave some nuts out for their favorite squirrels during this month.