Squirrel Sanity: Are We Going NUTS Over Rodents?

A Nutty Situation: Are We Letting Our Squirrel Population Dwindle?

Now, I’ve always been a friend to wildlife. A good, solid outdoorsman. My grandfather used to say a healthy forest is a sign of a healthy nation, and frankly, I agree. That’s why this whole “Save the Squirrels Initiative” has caught my attention, and I have to say, some of what I’m hearing is… concerning.

Apparently, these groups are dedicated to preserving squirrel populations. Squirrels! Now don’t get me wrong, I appreciate a bushy tail as much as the next fellow. They're cute, they’re energetic, and yes, they do bury nuts which helps trees grow – I'll give them that. But the level of fervor surrounding this is a bit much, if you ask me.

They claim squirrels are vital to “seed dispersal and forest regeneration.” Sounds a bit dramatic, doesn’t it? Forests have been regenerating for millennia without dedicated squirrel-saving organizations. It’s nature! It sorts itself out. And frankly, a little natural selection never hurt anyone.

I’ve been reading about their methods, and it’s a whole laundry list of government overreach waiting to happen. “Habitat conservation” they call it. That translates to more regulations, more restrictions on landowners, and more of our tax dollars disappearing into bureaucratic black holes. They want to protect “forests, green spaces, and woodlands” and advocate for laws to do so. What happened to personal responsibility? If you own land, you should be able to manage it as you see fit, not be dictated to by some committee worried about every little rodent.

They’re also pushing for “anti-poaching” measures. Poaching! Are we really facing a squirrel poaching epidemic? I haven’t seen any reports of black market squirrel rings operating in my county. And this talk of integrating squirrel conservation into “broader climate policies”... it’s just another excuse to push a radical climate agenda.

Now, I did stumble across a video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC6CwVCTrAU) and a whole playlist (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3IbZdkN4yNXtt63zvFEdQptHNpeJHBmE) detailing this initiative. While some of it is… well, informative, it’s all framed around this idea that squirrels are somehow endangered. They even mention the pygmy squirrel, but that’s a very specific case.

They also briefly touched on why dogs chase squirrels. Instinct, folks! It’s the natural order of things! We shouldn't be trying to suppress a dog's natural instincts for the sake of a… squirrel.

Look, I’m all for responsible stewardship of our natural resources. But let’s not lose sight of common sense. We have real problems facing this nation, and dedicating significant resources to “saving the squirrels” feels like a misplaced priority. Maybe we should focus on issues that truly affect the well-being of people before we worry about ensuring every squirrel has a comfortable acorn.