Just plain fun
This bundle of cuteness is a Kaibab squirrel. They live only on the Kaibab Plateau near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. At one time they were considered to be their own species, today Kaibab squirrels are thought to be a subspecies of the Abert’s squirrel.I liked it better when they were their own species. It gave Arizona bragging rights. There’s a lot of pride and fun tied up with these little guys.
As you can see the most distinctive physical traits are the bushy tail and that tuft of fur at the top of their ears. They usually eat the seeds from Ponderosa pine cones, but they love fruit. Like most squirrels, they’ll scold you if you don’t share your meal with them. Raisins are a big hit. Depending on the squirrel, they may go for nuts too. Stay away from the candy. They’ll eat it AND enjoy it, but it’s really not that good for them.When I was a kid living in Phoenix, my folks would take us to Jacob Lake to escape the summer heat. The North Rim is quite a bit higher than the South Rim and can be very pleasant in summer. It also has some amazing aspen trees. Hearing the wind move through both the pine and aspen was wonderful.
And then there is watching the squirrels move and play. Some of it is certainly play. We know now that play helps mammals develop and maintain their social behaviors.
They are just plain fun.
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