# Squirrels marginally cuter in Winter, because they're chubbier: additional fat or additional fur? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 28, 2013, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrels-marginally-cuter-in-winter-because-theyre-chubbier-additional-fat-or-additional-fur/675002 "2013-11-28T14:19:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrels-marginally-cuter-in-winter-because-theyre-chubbier-additional-fat-or-additional-fur/675002/1 "2013-11-28T14:19:50Z")
See subject. Serious conflict in gardens downstairs. Tempers rising. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrels-marginally-cuter-in-winter-because-theyre-chubbier-additional-fat-or-additional-fur/675002/2 "2013-11-28T14:22:52Z")
Need answer fast? My WAG is fat. But, perhaps I should check with the local population of squirrels. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrels-marginally-cuter-in-winter-because-theyre-chubbier-additional-fat-or-additional-fur/675002/3 "2013-11-28T14:35:21Z")
Neither. Their fur fluffs up in response to the cold, sort of like when we get goosebumps. Thus, they look cuter. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrels-marginally-cuter-in-winter-because-theyre-chubbier-additional-fat-or-additional-fur/675002/4 "2013-11-28T14:47:11Z")
I agree with Athena and so does Chikkkalllacch, the local spokessquirrel for the trees around my house. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrels-marginally-cuter-in-winter-because-theyre-chubbier-additional-fat-or-additional-fur/675002/5 "2013-11-28T17:53:09Z")
They’re bushy-tailed rats, no matter what the season. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrels-marginally-cuter-in-winter-because-theyre-chubbier-additional-fat-or-additional-fur/675002/6 "2013-11-28T17:57:54Z")
when you put up antisquirrel measures at birdfeeders they are fun to watch. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrels-marginally-cuter-in-winter-because-theyre-chubbier-additional-fat-or-additional-fur/675002/7 "2013-11-28T18:21:45Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > when you put up antisquirrel measures at birdfeeders they are fun to watch. 😕 relation to OP? If none, that’s cool. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrels-marginally-cuter-in-winter-because-theyre-chubbier-additional-fat-or-additional-fur/675002/8 "2013-11-28T18:28:30Z")
bird feeding is a winter activity for most people and the squirrels are bolder about being out in the open. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrels-marginally-cuter-in-winter-because-theyre-chubbier-additional-fat-or-additional-fur/675002/9 "2013-11-28T18:58:12Z")
I repeat, still with a :): relation to OP? Admit it, damnit, hijack! Hijack! ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrels-marginally-cuter-in-winter-because-theyre-chubbier-additional-fat-or-additional-fur/675002/10 "2013-11-29T15:08:03Z")
Objection overruled. The Court finds that squirrel antics at bird feeders are tangentially relevant to the “marginally cuter in Winter” aspect of the case. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrels-marginally-cuter-in-winter-because-theyre-chubbier-additional-fat-or-additional-fur/675002/11 "2013-11-29T16:25:31Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > They’re bushy-tailed rats, no matter what the season. Actually I’ve heard them described as : “rats with good PR”