Celebrate National Squirrel Appreciation Day

You might think January 21 is just another day in the year, but we think it's actually pretty special... because it's National Squirrel Appreciation Day! The perfect day to learn about one of the world's cutest mammals and celebrate our favorite squirrel mascot, Parkson Rex! We're taking the week of January 18 to celebrate with various activities online and in our parks! And if you participate, you could even win a DPR Prize Pack! After reading more about the history of National Squirrel Appreciation Day and our mascot, Parkson Rex, check out how you can celebrate this nutty day with us!

History of National Squirrel Appreciation Day

This day was established in 2001 by Christy Hargrove, a wildlife rehabilitation specialist who desired to encourage positive attitudes and kind hearts toward these bushy-tailed, nut-loving creatures. While some might consider these tree climbing critters a nuisance, squirrels actually play a large role in the ecosystem. Ever see them burying a nut in the ground for future use? Eventually, you might notice a tree where the nut was buried - way to go Squirrels for contributing to renewing our forests! Learn more about the history of National Squirrel Appreciation Day.

About Parkson Rex

We welcomed Parkson Rex into the Durham Parks and Recreation family at the Fourth of July Celebration in 2018. Our former mascots, Earl and Pearl, adopted Parkson after finding him in Durham's Carroll Street Park. Now he is taking over their legacy as DPR's mascot! Watch more of their story on our YouTube page. We've learned that Parkson loves food with nuts and his favorite color is green! His hobbies include climbing trees, playing in Durham parks, exercising at DPR recreation centers, and connecting the Durham community to wellness, the outdoors and lifelong learning. If you ever see him around the city, make sure to give him a hug, a high five, teach him a new dance move or share some exercise tips! And don't forget to make him laugh by sharing an "a-corny" joke. Read more about Parkson Rex on our website.

Join the DPR Celebration

We're having an all-week celebration honoring squirrels and here's how you can join in the fun with us:

• Surprise Park Prize Pack Hunt
• As long as the weather cooperates, Parkson and his favorite pals are hiding DPR Prize Packs at some of his favorite Durham parks on January 21. These prize packs include a stuffed animal squirrel, chalk, coloring page and more! We'll be sharing hints and clues on our social media channels throughout the day! Once you find a DPR Prize Pack, take a quick selfie and let us know you won by reaching out to us on social media using our handle @dprplaymore.
• 'Where's Parkson' Website Scavenger Hunt
• Pull out your magnifying glass and get ready to go on a virtual scavenger hunt! Parkson Rex is hiding throughout our website. Can you find all the pages he's hiding on!? Submit the number of Parkson's you found in this form for a chance to win a DPR Prize Pack. The scavenger hunt officially starts on Friday, January 15 and will end on Thursday, January 21. A winner will be randomly drawn and contacted with the information provided in the form.
• Show Us Your Squirrel Swag
• Time to get a little nutty! Let your creativity go wild! We want to see your best squirrel swag, gear, or even a costume! Share a photo with us by tagging us @dprplaymore on social media for your chance to win a DPR Prize Pack. A winner will be randomly drawn and contacted on social media.

There are so many opportunities to celebrate Squirrel Appreciation Day and win a DPR Prize Pack! Whether you participate or not, we hope you take some part of your day to honor this beloved creature. Some other ways you can celebrate include planning a visit to a local park to go squirrel watching, dancing to a song about squirrels, or learning more about squirrels from a book at your local library. And don't forget to tag us on social media @dprplaymore and use the hashtags #squirrelappreciationday and #parksonrex.