Animal Lovers: How Will You Celebrate Squirrel Appreciation Day?

According to the Holiday Insights website, Saturday is Squirrel Appreciation Day. Though we've never heard of it, well, news is news and we must report it as it comes in. The website says that Squirrel Appreciation Day "is an opportunity to enjoy and appreciate your tree climbing, nut gathering neighborhood squirrels."

Held in winter when food is scares for our ubiquitous, little, fluffy-tailed friends, they suggest celebrating by giving "an extra special treat today to supplement their winter diets."

The origin of the obscure holiday is just as obscure. No government mandate or interest group created this holiday. A woman named Christy Hargrove, a wildlife rehabilitator from North Carolina, began the holiday in 2001.

The holiday has gained some notoriety. It has its own hashtag on Twitter (#squirrelday) created by the National Wildlife Foundation and eco-journalist Russell McLendon wrote a blog post about it this year listing 21 noteworthy facts about them.