Photo by Ursula Ruhl.
Survey research by Don Corrigan released in his July 12 Webster-Kirkwood Times column, “Squirrels: Friends Or Foes?” reveals that almost 70% of survey respondents think squirrels are our friends. Of note, all these people relate to mass-mediated squirrels. They are infatuated with Rocket J. Squirrel, Rally Squirrel, Squirrel Nutkin and Surly the Squirrel from the movie, The Nut Job.
Here are some research results not covered in the column: More the 70% of respondents believe that squirrels will be thriving on our Earth long after human beings have vanished from the planet.
Climate change is causing some squirrels to give birth earlier, to migrate north, to move to different elevations in mountain areas. Should humans bear any responsibility for the disruption of the habitat for squirrels? Are squirrels better equipped than humans to deal with such disruption? Respondents were mostly undecided on these two questions.
If you would like to give your two cents on the issue of whether squirrels are our friends or our foes, please leave a comment on this post below. (At the end of this post.)
If you would like to complete a squirrel research survey, open and/or print the following attachment. You can either send your answers via email to corrigan@timesnewspapers.com or mail the completed survey form attention to Don Corrigan at 122 W. Lockwood Ave., 2nd floor, Webster Groves, Mo 63119.
See the Calendar of Squirrel events for the month of July below. Squirrel research surveys will also be distributed to audiences attending the events.
On Friday July19th, at 11:30 a.m., Don Corrigan, author of “Nuts About Squirrels: The Rodents That Conquered Popular Culture,” will present a PowerPoint Show, lecture and book signing at the Shepherd’s Center in Glendale. His squirrelly show will be at the Center at 1333 W Lockwood Ave. Corrigan is editor of the West End Word, Webster-Kirkwood Times and South County Times, as well as a professor of journalism at Webster University.
On Monday July 22nd, at 6:30 p.m., Don Corrigan, author of “Nuts About Squirrels: The Rodents That Conquered Popular Culture,” will present a PowerPoint Show, lecture and book signing at the Jefferson County Library. His squirrelly show will be at the High Ridge Library Branch, 5680 Missouri PP, High Ridge. Corrigan is editor of the West End Word, Webster-Kirkwood Times and South County Times, as well as a professor of journalism at Webster University.
On Wednesday July 24th, at 3:30 p.m., Don Corrigan, author of “Nuts About Squirrels: The Rodents That Conquered Popular Culture,” will present a PowerPoint Show, lecture and book signing at the Gatesworth. His squirrelly show will be at the location at One McKnight Place. Corrigan is editor of the West End Word, Webster-Kirkwood Times and South County Times, as well as a professor of journalism at Webster University. (Not Open To The Public)
On Thursday July 25th, at 1 p.m., Don Corrigan, author of “Nuts About Squirrels: The Rodents That Conquered Popular Culture,” will present a PowerPoint Show, lecture and book notes for the Webster Echo Student Journalism Camp. His squirrelly show will be at the Echo Headquarters of Webster Groves High School. Corrigan is editor of the West End Word, Webster-Kirkwood Times and South County Times, as well as a professor of journalism at Webster University. (Not Open To The Public)
Environmental Echo 
Squirrels are my friend like the cow and chicken are my friend. I like to eat them. I don’t like it when they eat all of the apples off of my trees in the backyard.
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squirrels are smart the little ones can get seed from the bird feeders, now they weigh too much the feeder closes they still try though
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Thank you D. Savage and M. Meiners for your observations on the squirrels. Thanks also to the folks who have come to the squirrel presentations in St. Charles County and Jefferson County libraries. Also at Webster Groves and Kirkwood public libraries. What fun! A presentation on “Nuts About Squirrels” has been accepted for later this year at the Popular Culture Association Conference in Cincinnati. We will stop at the Creation Museum in Kentucky on the way there and see the scale model of Noah’s Ark. How did squirrels manage to stay on that Ark with all the dinosaurs that also were taken aboard?
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