Be aware of sneaky squirrels for Wester

Happy Wester, the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Autumnal Equinox!* As I have since 2013, I'm featuring the animal mascot for the fake holiday, the squirrel. I begin by noting that October is Squirrel Awareness Month.

Squirrel Awareness Month is an annual designation observed in October. Yes, you read that right. A whole month dedicated to giving those furry, quirky little creatures a little appreciation. It’s a time to look around at a local park, or even right outside your window, and giggle at the silly mannerisms of squirrels.

They may come off as a little mischievous and troublesome when they get into the bird feeders or even your attic, but you may not realize why they do what they do. Squirrels spend most of the warmer months gearing up for winter. Here’s the craziest part: experts estimate that squirrels find and bury three years of food during the warm months! They don’t hibernate during the winter, but they do like to stay cozy in their dens so they can sleep and snack until it warms up again.

SciShow describes how Eastern Gray Squirrels use their mischievousness to defend their food caches in 7 Animals That Can't Be Trusted.

Almost every human has told a lie at some point or another - but did you know that we are not the only species to do this? From dogs to cuttlefish to thornbills, these 7 animals also lie!

For years, I have closed these entries by writing "May the Wester Squirrel not steal anything from you and hide it!" I didn't realize that the squirrels may be thinking the same thing about us!

*Today is also National Food Day. I'm postponing my post about that until tomorrow. Stay tuned.