That day you’ve had marked on your calendars since….. well, I guess only 21 days now…. is finally here! Every January 21st, people all across the world celebrate National Squirrel Appreciation Day by showing kindness to our bushy tailed friends who often go overlooked in a cat and dog world. For those of us lucky to have squirrels frolicking about our neighborhoods, we are truly blessed to get to witness the entertaining antics and totally toxic cuteness that these critters bring into our lives.
So, besides bringing a fresh ear of corn out to my tree feeder, I’ve decided to celebrate this most special sciurine holiday by showing you many interesting ways you can show your appreciation to a nearby squirrel… and I’m going to do it using only previously drawn 200X200 pixel “avatars” (Like MBRS in the Ray Lewis jersey above) that I originally made for my WWTBAM message board account, and only those which feature one or more of my squirrel characters!
With apologies to Paul Simon…. here are fifty ways you can show your appreciation to a squirrel today:
1. Say it with flowers!
2. Buy yourself some squirrel art. Squirrels make incredible artwork…
3. Climbing and jumping through trees is hard on even the sciurine spine. Give a squirrel a back massage!
4. Feed a squirrel some raisins!
5. Give a squirrel a high five!
6. Give a squirrel “one to grow on” for its special day!
7. Ask your squirrel for a dance.
8. Don’t forget to brake for squirrels!
9. Let a squirrel come in from the cold!
10. A hot jacuzzi for your furry friend will really make him feel toasty warm!
11. Treat your squirrel to a Slurpee!
12. Encourage your squirrel to support political causes that will help improve its quality of life.
13. Lend a squirrel your lap!
14. Challenge your squirrel to a friendly game.
15. Even squirrels like to waterski!
16. Create a special card to show you care!
17. Take a squirrel sightseeing!
18. Allow your squirrel to use the proper facilities…
19. And get a fresh drink of water!
20. Buy the squirrel you love a special toy!
21. Let your squirrel make a fashion statement.
22. Draw your squirrel a nice, hot bath.
23. Take a squirrel to the slopes!
24. Send your squirrel on a midnight train to Georgia.
25. Buy some Squirrel Scout cookies!
26. Teach a squirrel how to crochet!

Hodge and Podge make it look so easy…
27. Give a squirrel a horseback ride!
28. Paint a portrait of your squirrel.
29. Help a squirrel wash itself.
30. Call up a squirrelfriend to extend your greetings!
31. Just bask in a squirrel’s amazing aura.
32. Serenade your furry friend with a silly squirrel love song!
33. Invite a squirrel to play with you!
34. Won’t you take a squirrel on a sea cruise?
35. Show a squirrel how to have a good time!
36. Debug an itchy squirrel.
37. Shower a squirrel with material possessions!
38. Invite a squirrel to dinner on its turf!
39. Do not invite a squirrel to be the dinner.
40. Do a photo shoot of your favorite squirrel!
41. Play some music for a squirrel! After all, it tames the savage beast…
42. Kiss a squirrel, and you’ll like it!
43. Be a squirrel’s valentine!
44. Don’t be afraid to touch a squirrel! It has well documented health benefits for both parties…
45. Let a squirrel warm your heart and soul!
46. Show respect for a squirrel’s place in nature.
47. Buy a squirrel a drink for its special day!
48. Kick the birds out of the birdbath for a day.
49. Ask a squirrel out on a date!
And finally…..
50. Hug a squirrel! Because January 21st is also National Hug Day!
But no matter how you do it, show a squirrel some appreciation today…. and every day!
I’m with #6… but I saw no squirrel today… probably they are in the pub :o)
Crazy drunk squirrels… the original party animals!
The earworm set off by #34 was thankfully replaced by the one started in #40.
Yesterday was Penguin Awareness Day. At least y’all get appreciation, penguins just want to remind everyone they are still there, waddling away…
Yeah, penguins totally got jipped. They need to be loved & adored, not just have everyone aware of their existence
I would love to see a campaign to raise awareness that penguins do not hang around the North Pole with Santa Claus!
YES! And they are not BFFs with Cola drinking polar bears!
Someone needs to lead the charge for Penguin Appreciation Day! If only Burgess Meredith were still alive…
Squirrels have an awareness month as well… October. But that’s more than poor possums have…
@RunningHeartless -have you seen this series of Pearls Before Swine comics? He got so much grief over the polar bear/penguin thing this is how it ended:
#20 – REALLY??? You’re kind of a pervert, ES.
I am a prevert… and the funny thing is, I drew that picture originally to taunt someone I don’t care for who was bragging about their “new toy” (some cellphone), and who’s so clueless that I knew they would never “get it” (but everyone else would!). I am a flat out bastard sometimes….
Brother, I like your style! 😀
If I see a squirrel I will give it a hug, but I haven’t seen one in years. Groundhogs a plenty, squirrels, zero. I’m not sure they like Canada. 😦
Hmmmm… maybe if it got above freezing for a few days each year…. 😛
Hey! It’s above freezing right now. By one degree! LOL
Congratulations! I KNEW you’d come through. Squirrel Scout cookies are my favorites, especially mind chocolate with acorn bits. Happy Squirrel Day!!
Mint chocolate, not MIND chocolate. Or maybe I got it right the first time.
Mind chocolate would be excellent… better it go there than to the waist or the thighs….
Oh, and a blessed NSAD to you as well!
(I read that as a “blessed NSAID” and was trying to figure out if we were appreciating Advil today too!)
I could have just dropped the N and wished everyone a Happy SAD, but that just sounds so oxymoronic….
Oh, when I got down to herdthinner’s comment, I just had to drop a picture of cosplay Squirrel Girl taking on your hero….
Now, if only the squirrels would come back. They really have disappeared. Haven’t seen one in years, but we used to have a lot of them. Maybe it’s lack of decent restaurants in the town because acorns, we’ve got. Tons of them.
My squirrel…talkin’ about my squirrel….(my squirrel!)
This is adorable.
Thank you! I hope some squirrel was your sunshine on a cloudy day….
I tried to give a squirrel a high five, but it just left me hangin’.
I think they’re just jealous of all the attention the unicorns got last week….
Probably.
Oh, happy day, ESN. May The Reeg bow at your throne. 🙂
I’m not sure my throne meets the specifications for cleanliness outlined in Reeg’s contract… he also wouldn’t want a squirrel to jump out of the water and grab his nuts….
#51. Give a squirrel the new Pitbull CD…..
If I hadn’t come across that avatar, I wouldn’t have remembered the squirrel scout one. I coulda made this a lot longer, but only made it halfway through my library before saying enough is enough…
Did ES ever give you that CD back, or did Lizbit confiscate it?
52. Buy copies of Marvel’s Squirrel Girl comic!
(Yes, there is such a character)
While I’ve never been into comics, my squirrelly senses have made me aware of this character’s existence. I think she’s gonna take down Sheena’s BFF….
Both characters are unbeatable (seriously; look up SG’s history sometime), so would this be a battle between unstoppable forces??
TUNE IN!!
Happy squirrel appreciation day ES! We are off to the beach for australia day weekend. It is HOT here. LOVED the squirrell toons. 😀
It’s really warm here too! It almost hit 50 degees F today!
Have a great time at the beach!
Some of those are a bit creepy. Squirrel in a thong 🙂
I performed number 8 yesterday – on Squirrel Appreciation Day! I had to slow down while a squirrel got out of the road. Though it was a grey squirrel. Damn murdering interlopers…
Could there be a tale of the revenge of the red squirrel in the works…..???
I did nearly start banging on about red squirrels! I’m not sure I’ve ever even seen one “in the fur”, to be honest.
I saw no squirrels on Wednesday but I did think about them. Does that count?
It’s the thoughts that count!