The American grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) does get a bad press in the UK, where it has turned up and scared away most of our native, far cuter red squirrel population, but here in the US these rats-with-fluffy-tails are still held in high regard. As previously reported on this blog, Berkeley's campus squirrels are ranked #1 in the country. There has also been a resurgence of squirrel eating in these tough economic times.
On a personal note, I enjoy watching the little critters as they hop, skip, and jump around outside my window, foraging for nuts and getting up to their squirrelly activities. It's inspiring. And, as luck would have it, such a beasty was perched in the tree this morning.
I'd like to think the appreciation is mutual.
