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WCSX City of the Week

National Squirrel Appreciation Day and 10 Questions with City of the Week’s Squirrel Expert, Joel Morgan

By Scotty Hall January 20th, 2022
Mankind and squirrel kind make a tentative alliance.

Tomorrow, January 21st is National Squirrel Appreciation Day per National Today. In 2001, Christy Hargrove, a wildlife rehabilitation specialist, founded National Squirrel Appreciation Day. Seen by some as a nuisance, squirrels are beneficial to the environment as they plant seeds accidentally as they collect nuts. And around the WCSX station, there are few that love squirrels as much as City of the Week’s Joel Morgan. So I decided to sit down with Joel and talk nuts, I mean squirrels:

  • 1. Hey Joel, one of the best days of the year is upon us, NATIONAL SQUIRREL APPRECIATION DAY, how are you going to celebrate?

    I knew about Ground Hog Day, but not National Squirrel Appreciation Day. Cool! I’m going to break out the walnuts for the little dudes in my backyard. Walnuts are like the $50 Dollar bill of the Squirrel World.

  • 2. People have been talking around the station about you being an expert on squirrels, why is that?

    I would say I’m more of a fan than an expert, but I’m a pretty big fan!

  • 3. I know you are quite the artist, have you made any squirrel related art? And if so, what was your process?

    I have made some squirrels out of Lego. I made one for Aliza that she displays on the counter at the Beasley front desk. I made another that wants to be Eddie Van Halen.

  • 4. What's something about squirrels that you would like others to know that they may not?

    Squirrels are extraordinarily intelligent. They have individual personalities. Some are shy, some are bold. They all are brave beyond their size.  I used to think that they were silent animals- but they can communicate with sound when they want to they can growl, “bark” and whine. They have excellent vision and hearing. They also have little tongues, – just like dogs.

  • 5. Do you have a favorite squirrel? Perhaps a celebrity squirrel?

    Yes, I have had several. My current favourite lives in a hole in the tree that is right out of my backyard door wall. As far as celebrity squirrels, I once met and played with Twiggy The Waterskiing Squirrel at a WCSX appearance at the Boat Show once. I’m also a fan of Rocky the Flying Squirrel,(Rocky & Bullwinkle Show) The Squirrel from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation movie and Sandy Cheeks from Sponge Bob Square Pants Show. I’m also a fan of Nibbles the Squirrel, who actually used to work at WCSX, and of course Chip, the official mascot of WCSX City of the Week!

  • 6. Have you ever thought about having a pet squirrel? Is there a city code for such a thing?

    No, absolutely not. Squirrels are wild animals. They would scratch and chew the hell out of everything in the house. I think that you have to have some kind of animal training/certification to legally own and keep a squirrel, (if you didn’t care about anything else you own that they would destroy!) I am happy with my small herd of “Free Range Pets”! 

  • 7. If you were to get that pet squirrel, what would be some possible names?

    I usually name my backyard squirrels according to some distinguishing feature or behaviour. Like “Big Ears” or “White Belly”.  I named one “Leaner” because he had some kind of posture problem. “Wally” was a nut snob that only wanted walnuts.

  • 8. Do you like other rodents, like chipmunks? Chip and Dale perhaps?

    We prefer to call them “critters”.  Oh Yeah! Beavers, Otters,  Bunnies, Ground Hogs, Raccoons, Opossums, Chip Munks. Yes, I love animals- Even rodents. !

  • 9. Do you know any good squirrel jokes? (that I can print)

    Unfortunately,  I have never heard a squirrel joke. 

  • 10. How do you say goodbye in

    I say “Later, Dudes”…and just slide the door shut. They get the message, hahaha!

  • WCSX's Squirrel Gallery

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