Hi Kids, I'm Philbert the Squirrel! Thousand Trails likes to carve my picture into its signs at the front of its resorts. You may have seen my picture there.

We squirrels got our name over 700 years ago. Squirrel is a French word that means, "that which makes a shade with its tail." I was named after the filbert hazelnut tree that my mom and dad so warmly remember.

Squirrels are called "omnivores" because we eat a large variety of foods from smaller mammals to insects, nuts, seeds and fruit.

Each year we get ready for winter by burying nuts and seeds we’ll need during the cold when no other food is available. Inside our burrow, we use our tails to cover up and keep warm. My mom uses some of the fur from her tail to make our nest soft and cozy for my baby brothers and sisters.

People generally like us because of our cute appearance, intelligence and eating styles. This can be good and bad. It's not a good idea to hand feed us because sometimes we can't tell the difference between food and a finger. If you get too friendly with us we might move into your attic instead of staying in the trees where we belong.

Our teeth grow all the time, so we need to chew on lots of tough things to keep them from growing too long, and to keep them sharp. This can sometimes cause problems for you if we chew on the electrical wiring around your house or the wood in your attic.

It’s always a bad idea to feed wildlife. We become dependent on being given food and that makes it hard for us hunt for ourselves. You wouldn’t want me to forget how to hunt, would you? What if I learn to count on you, and then you don’t come around for a long time?

Besides, I like to keep busy gathering, organizing, and planning ahead. It is important that you listen, learn and gather information so you can get ready for the future too.