And You Never Asked Your Mother

[Gregory Matthews]

Questions that you always wanted answered about squirrels, but you never asked your mother:

NOTE:  I am endebted to this for an article by Hazel Wheaton, on page 78 of the December/January edition of Birds & Blooms.

1)  The squirrels in New York's Central Park are decended from a handful released in 1877.

2) Squirrels can run at a speed of 20 MPH.

3) Squirrels can rotate their hind feet 180 degrees.  This helps them to climb your bird feeder.

4) There are 285 species of squirrel, in three different groups--ground, tree and flying.

5) Some squirrels can jump 8 feet from a stationary position.

6) The front teeth of a squirrel may grow 10  inches a year.  They have to gnaw to keep them short.

7) January 21, 2017 is National Squirrel Appreciation Day.

8)  Birds and other squirrels steal some 25% of the food that a squirrel hides.