We have a new friend living with us up here on the hill. He’s pretty unusual looking to those who are new to the area and aren’t accustomed to seeing white squirrels…

According to legends around here, two white squirrels first came to Brevard, NC, about 60 years ago when they escaped from a circus. Since then these little guys have become so loved that the Brevard City Council established a sanctuary for them, making it ”unlawful for any person to hunt, kill, trap, or otherwise take any protected squirrels within the city.”

Brevard even holds an annual music festival for them. The White Squirrel Festival follows the Memorial Day Parade and includes a Squirrel Box Derby, guided tours, exhibits, photo contests, food courts and street vendors. You can read more about this unique event on the Brevard-Transylvania tourism web site here.

We haven’t decided to create a new holiday for them, but I did buy a new “tree ornament” for my sweetheart this Christmas so we can feed them. I nicknamed him Big Mouth…

The only problem is that these guys are so fast I haven’t caught them emptying the peanuts each day. But I will, eventually.