{"id":99148,"date":"2022-01-21T06:08:04","date_gmt":"2022-01-21T13:08:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=99148"},"modified":"2026-03-06T17:42:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T23:42:58","slug":"squirrel-appreciation-day-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/01\/21\/squirrel-appreciation-day-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Squirrel Appreciation Day 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"

January 21st is Squirrel Appreciation Day<\/span><\/a> around the globe. There are many reasons to appreciate these furry, four legged, cute creatures.<\/p>\n

\"BabyBaby Uinta Ground Squirrel calling from a rock<\/span><\/p>\n

Squirrels come in many shapes and sizes and there are ground and tree squirrels. While the Eastern Gray Squirrel is probably the most well known squirrel in North America there are many other species that are native across the continent.<\/p>\n

In northern Utah I don’t see many squirrels in the yard where I live. I truly appreciate the ones I have seen at home and on my travels to find birds to photograph. When I see a squirrel I stop to take photos, why wouldn’t I?<\/p>\n

The squirrel species I photograph most often, Uinta Ground Squirrels, are only above ground a few months of the year. I photograph Uinta Ground Squirrels in the Wasatch and Uinta Mountain ranges when they come up in the spring until they head back underground.<\/p>\n

I also photograph Rock Squirrels, Red Squirrels, and White-tailed Antelope Squirrels less often. I would love to have a Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel in my viewfinder and Northern Flying Squirrels too!<\/p>\n

\"StretchingStretching Least Chipmunk on an old fence post<\/span><\/p>\n

Tree and ground squirrels are not the only members of the Sciuridae or squirrel family. Chipmunks are also in the same family. In Utah I have photographed Least and Uinta Chipmunks. There are two more chipmunks in Utah that I have yet to take images of which are Paiute and Cliff Chipmunks.<\/p>\n

\"Yellow-belliedYellow-bellied Marmot pups playing near their burrow<\/span><\/p>\n

Yellow-bellied Marmots and prairie dogs are members of the squirrel family too. Regular viewers of my blog know I can’t resist photographing marmots when I find them and the same is true about prairie dogs although I see them less often than marmots.<\/p>\n

All members of the squirrel family draw my attention as soon as I spot them. Some members of the squirrel family help with reforestation, aeration, and seed dispersal. There are over 250 species of squirrels in the world on five continents. Squirrels can be found in cities, parks, suburbs, deserts, mountains, and forests. By storing their food, also known as caching, squirrels help with fruit, tree, plant, and mushroom renewal. Some are considered pests by ranchers, farmers and even homeowners.<\/p>\n

Me? I appreciate them all<\/em> and love taking photos of them whenever I can. If that makes me squirrelly in some folks eyes well I am 100% okay with that. I am nuts about squirrels.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my squirrel photos in my mammal photo galleries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

January 21st is Squirrel Appreciation Day around the globe. There are many reasons to appreciate these furry, four legged, cute creatures.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":99139,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1148,5922,4594,1731,1630,26,773,231],"tags":[5772,4072,3940,4383,5352,4098,898,1631,5071,5351,3291,9979,1632,5854,2241,4984,4069,2264,4806,4107,5855,4921,4470,5697,165,3826,3827,3964,2315,2619,2620,4176,4029,4193],"class_list":["post-99148","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-box-elder-county-utah","category-least-chipmunks","category-morgan-county","category-summit-county-utah","category-uinta-ground-squirrel","category-utah","category-wasatch-mountains","category-yellow-bellied-marmots","tag-baby","tag-calling","tag-canyon","tag-chipmunk","tag-chipmunks","tag-desert","tag-fence-post","tag-ground-squirrel","tag-ground-squirrels","tag-least-chipmunk","tag-lichen","tag-lichens","tag-mammals","tag-marmot","tag-marmota-flaviventris","tag-marmots","tag-mountains","tag-tamias-minimus","tag-playing","tag-pup","tag-pups","tag-rock","tag-rocks","tag-rodents","tag-spring","tag-squirrel","tag-squirrels","tag-stretching","tag-summer-3","tag-uinta-ground-squirrel-2","tag-urocitellus-armatus","tag-wasatch-mountains","tag-yellow-bellied-marmot","tag-young"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/uinta-ground-squirrel-baby-calling-mia-mcpherson-4066.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-pNa","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":109055,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/12\/28\/some-mammals-i-loved-in-2023\/","url_meta":{"origin":99148,"position":0},"title":"Some Mammals I Loved In 2022","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 28, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"This morning I am sharing some photos of the mammals I loved finding, seeing, photographing and having in my viewfinder in 2022.","rel":"","context":"In "American Badgers"","block_context":{"text":"American Badgers","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/wildlife\/american-badger\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American Badger in profile, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/american-badger-wasatch-mountains-mia-mcpherson-0292.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/american-badger-wasatch-mountains-mia-mcpherson-0292.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/american-badger-wasatch-mountains-mia-mcpherson-0292.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/american-badger-wasatch-mountains-mia-mcpherson-0292.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":109753,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/01\/21\/squirrel-appreciation-day-2023\/","url_meta":{"origin":99148,"position":1},"title":"Squirrel Appreciation Day 2023","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 21, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Today is Squirrel Appreciation Day around the globe. Love them, or hate them, there is no denying that they are fun, fascinating, beguiling, fuzzy creatures!","rel":"","context":"In "Summit County"","block_context":{"text":"Summit County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/summit-county-utah\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Dozing Uinta Ground Squirrel, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/uinta-ground-squirrel-adult-closed-eyes-mia-mcpherson-5141.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/uinta-ground-squirrel-adult-closed-eyes-mia-mcpherson-5141.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/uinta-ground-squirrel-adult-closed-eyes-mia-mcpherson-5141.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/uinta-ground-squirrel-adult-closed-eyes-mia-mcpherson-5141.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5194,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/06\/17\/creatures-great-and-small-red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge\/","url_meta":{"origin":99148,"position":2},"title":"Creatures Great and Small – Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 17, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"There are many mammals to see at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Montana, I haven't seen them all yet but I hope to one day. On this last trip I saw Moose, Elk, Skunks, Ground Squirrels, Chipmunks, Foxes, White-tailed and Mule Deer, Yellow-bellied Marmots, and Pronghorns.","rel":"","context":"In "Montana"","block_context":{"text":"Montana","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Moose with calf in Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/moose-calf-mia-mcpherson-8746.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/moose-calf-mia-mcpherson-8746.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/moose-calf-mia-mcpherson-8746.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/moose-calf-mia-mcpherson-8746.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":101468,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/04\/08\/my-first-of-year-uinta-ground-squirrel-photos\/","url_meta":{"origin":99148,"position":3},"title":"My First Of Year Uinta Ground Squirrel Photos","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 8, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"I took my first of year Uinta Ground Squirrel photos yesterday morning high up in the chilly Wasatch Mountains not long after the sun lit up the sagebrush.","rel":"","context":"In "Summit County"","block_context":{"text":"Summit County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/summit-county-utah\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult Uinta Ground Squirrel on a cold April morning, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/uinta-ground-squirrel-spring-mia-mpcherson-3688.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/uinta-ground-squirrel-spring-mia-mpcherson-3688.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/uinta-ground-squirrel-spring-mia-mpcherson-3688.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/uinta-ground-squirrel-spring-mia-mpcherson-3688.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":102548,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/05\/21\/cute-baby-uinta-ground-squirrel-images\/","url_meta":{"origin":99148,"position":4},"title":"Cute Baby Uinta Ground Squirrel Images","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 21, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Cute baby Uinta Ground Squirrel images have become a yearly tradition and desire for me and this week the babies were emerging from their burrows.","rel":"","context":"In "Summit County"","block_context":{"text":"Summit County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/summit-county-utah\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Young Uinta Ground Squirrel peeking out of a burrow, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/uinta-ground-squirrel-baby-mia-mcpherson-6514.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/uinta-ground-squirrel-baby-mia-mcpherson-6514.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/uinta-ground-squirrel-baby-mia-mcpherson-6514.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/uinta-ground-squirrel-baby-mia-mcpherson-6514.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":102952,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/06\/06\/more-cute-baby-uinta-ground-squirrels\/","url_meta":{"origin":99148,"position":5},"title":"More Cute Baby Uinta Ground Squirrels","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 6, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Last week while up in the Wasatch Mountains with my friend Steve I took more images of cute baby Uinta Ground Squirrels. 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