My husband talks about his days as a long-haul truck driver and the pet squirrel who kept him company (and startled many a driver at truck stops). His stories remind me of the many squirrels I’ve encountered in movies, television, and the internet.
1. Sugar Bush Squirrel
Sugar Bush Squirrel lives with Ms. Kelly Foxton in Baco Raton, Florida. Foxton took Sugar Bush in as a baby and raised her in the lap of luxury. An extremely patient and easy-going squirrel, Sugar Bush dresses in costumes and poses in specially-built scenes for photographs. She has her own calendar and a line of notecards and greeting cards you can buy, as well as a plush likeness that also wears tiny costumes. Her gallery is updated often with scenes from the news, like the Sarah Palin impression shown here.
2, Twiggy the Waterskiing Squirrel
Twiggy was rescued after hurricane David in 1978 and raised by Chuck and Lou Ann Best of Deltona, Florida. Chuck taught Twiggy to water ski behind a remote control boat as a treat for his daughter. What began as a joke turned into a water show sensation. Twiggy’s act has appeared in several movies and television shows. Although the original Twiggy has passed on, the act continues with subsequent squirrels trained by the Bests. See Twiggy ski in this video.
3. Tommy Tucker
Tommy Tucker was a tamed squirrel who posed for fashion photography in the 1940s. Photograph by Nina Leen/Time & Life Pictures.
4. & 5. Slappy and Skippy Squirrel
Slappy Squirrel and Skippy Squirrel were characters in the Steven Spielberg animated TV series Animaniacs, which aired from 1993 to 1998. Slappy was portrayed as an old woman and Skippy was her youthful and energetic nephew.
6. Rupert
Rupert was the title character of the 1950 Jimmy Durante film The Great Rupert. Rupert didn’t appear in many scenes and he didn’t have any lines, but he was the hero of the story. The evil landlord hid his cash inside the wall, where Rupert found it and flung it downstairs to the poor tenant who was praying for money. This behavior continued every week until the house caught fire (which was also Rupert’s doing). Still, there was a happy ending for all, including Rupert who became a circus star.
7. Scrat
Scrat is a character in all three Ice Age movies. He is a “saber-tooth squirrel” who spends his time scrounging for food and pursuing the delicious but elusive acorn. Many people say Scrat is the only reason they sit through any of the films, so Scrat has also starred in several short films.
8. Secret Squirrel
Secret Squirrel and his sidekick Morocco Mole were Hanna-Barbera cartoons characters in the Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show, which aired from 1965 to 1968. During one season, Secret Squirrel had his own show. He was a spy code named Agent 000 who used amazing gadgets to battle evildoers, a la James Bond. Mel Blanc did the voice of Secret Squirrel.
9. Rocky the Flying Squirrel
Rocket J. Squirrel is better known as Rocky the Flying Squirrel, the smarter half of the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. The cartoons were produced from 1959 to 1964, with June Foray as the voice of Rocky. Although he was miles above Bullwinkle the moose in intellect, most of their adventures were solved by odd coincidence or dumb luck. Rocky, unlike flying squirrels in nature, could propel himself to amazing heights.
See also: 10 Famous (or Notorious) Ducks
Comments (19)
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At one of my old jobs we would refer to any project where the leads couldn’t talk about the details as “Secret Squirrel” projects.
posted by Lindsey on 7-28-2009 at 9:52 am
Slappy is by far and away my favorite squirrel on this list! :-D
posted by MetFanMac on 7-28-2009 at 10:04 am
I love Scrat! Scrat is my favorite, closely followed by Slappy.
posted by Ophelia on 7-28-2009 at 12:24 pm
No mention of the Highbury squirrel?
posted by Keith on 7-28-2009 at 12:34 pm
Why notorious? Notoriety indicates that they are known because of dishonorable behavior, shame, illegal activity, or general infamy. Hardly a word which should be applied to such august squirrels as Rocket J. Squirrel.
You also spelled June Foray’s last name incorrectly.
posted by Steven on 7-28-2009 at 12:37 pm
Wow, thanks for Tommy Tucker, that just cracked me up & I needed it.
We had a mess of squirrels outside the house in Westfield, NY, including black ones. I kind of miss them. I would hand out tiny peanut butter sandwiches to them (seriously!). One way I would amuse myself was when I would see them waking up in the spring, I would smear peanut butter on the maple tree outside the kitchen window. LOVED watching those little tongues lapping up the peanut butter. A yellow bellied sapsucker (yeah, it’s really a bird) would make small holes in the maple tree, and the squirrels would lap up the sap. Great. Squirrels on sugar….:)
posted by Paula on 7-28-2009 at 12:42 pm
These are cute. Where are Mr. What’s-his-face’s stories. Or is this a come on to buy his book?
posted by duke on 7-28-2009 at 12:46 pm
What about Squirrely the Squirrel, from South Park? “Hail Satan!”
posted by Lars on 7-28-2009 at 1:08 pm
I love squirrels! Thanks for this post, it made me smile.
As for you, Steven, maybe you should take the squirrel out of your A-hole, then you might be less uptight.
posted by Molly on 7-28-2009 at 1:14 pm
Sorry if I offended you somehow Molly, but I expect accuracy from Mental Floss.
posted by Steven on 7-28-2009 at 1:56 pm
Steven, I corrected Foray. I suppose I should have titled this “9 Notable Squirrels” since that’s what I was thinking, but it’s probably a little too late to change the title.
posted by Miss Cellania on 7-28-2009 at 2:31 pm
I want to be Slappy Squirrel when/if I grow up! My favorite episode was when Skippy saw Bambi for the first time, and he was so devastated by Bambi’s mom’s demise. Slappy took him out to Arizona to meet the actress squirrel that played the mom, to show him it was only a movie.
Think about that for a second.
I’ll have to check out #1′s website.
posted by fuzzarelly on 7-28-2009 at 5:32 pm
I’ve just spent a good bit of time trying to figure out what’s in Sugar Bush Squirrel’s shopping cart…an American flag, a tiny squirrel, a camera, a box of Tide, an oscillating fan…
Thank YOU very much!
A fan of the Scaredy Squirrel books, A
posted by AMR on 7-28-2009 at 9:32 pm
I met the woman who trained twiggy in an Express store in Sanford, Florida. She commented that originally the clip of her water-skiing squirrel used in Anchorman was done so illegally…I’ve always wondered if that was true…
posted by Lou on 7-28-2009 at 10:11 pm
@ Paula — thank you for the info! I have a squirrel who eats pieces of bread on my balcony that I leave out for the birds, but I would like to give him another kind of treat. I’ll have to try the peanut butter thing. He’s so cute! I love their big bushy tails and large eyes :)
posted by Brandy on 7-28-2009 at 11:09 pm
One more squirrel for you – Foamy! From Ill Will Press (link in my name).
posted by Dawn on 7-29-2009 at 5:12 am
As much as I would wish to befriend Rupert, I would, probably, obstain from doing so. I love his generous personality, but burning down the house…
posted by Aliona on 8-3-2009 at 4:09 pm
Hi all, Sugar Bush here. Thanks for the number one spot on your list. I love what I do and appreciate all of my fans out there. Keep watching http://www.SugarBushSquirrel.com for new and exciting things and email me…I read all emails that come in and try to write back although that gets a little difficult at times. Thanks again and best to all of you, Sugar Bush Squirrel, The World’s Most Photographed Squirrel
SugarBushSquirrel@hotmail.com
posted by Sugar Bush Squirrel on 10-10-2009 at 10:48 pm
I would like to use the pick of Rocky on the mtn top, but need to get permission re: the copyright. Do you know how I can do that? Please email me if you have the information I need.
Thanks
posted by Lisette on 1-3-2011 at 7:00 pm