Town of Banff

Meet Our Squirrels

Gillroy. Rochelle. Abigail. Peter. Herman. Penelope.

Which way to Sulphur Mountain... ?

Visitors to our downtown area during Banff Refreshing in 2007 saw our team of Squirrel "guides" out and about. They were here to brighten your day, bring you a smile, and add some extra fun to your visit.

The Banff refreshing squirrels represent all five squirrel species that are found in Banff National Park. You will see squirrels often as you explore the park, but be sure to keep an eye out for other local wildlife such as pikas, coyotes, bighorn sheep, elk, moose, and a variety of birds from bald eagles to the endangered harlequin ducks.

Gillroy...

is a Columbian ground squirrel. Gillroy will be seen about town with a paint brush in hand. This might lead you to believe that he is an industrious character, and indeed Columbian ground squirrels have been known to construct very elaborate burrows. However, Gillroy's value to our Banff refreshing work crews is severely limited by his tendency to take eight-month naps.

Rochelle and Abigail...

are red squirrels. The red squirrel has a body length of 19 to 23 cm and a bushy tail up to 20 cm long. Its tail is often mistaken for a feather duster, so it's not surprising that Rochelle carries a duster wherever she goes. Abigail, on the other hand, prefers a light-weight rubber mallet.

Peter...

is a northern flying squirrel. These squirrels are hard to spot. Just like Banff refreshing construction workers, they stay out of your way and try to avoid being seen. While the construction worker hides behind colourful fencing, the flying squirrel confines its activities to the dark of night. Peter prefers to work with a broom, Harry Potter style.

Herman...

is a golden-mantled ground squirrel - one of nature's multi-taskers. He can stuff his cheek pouches with food and still run at full speed on all fours. Not to be outdone, the average visitor to Banff can balance a latte in one hand, eight shopping bags in the other, and scale a mountain. Herman's tool of choice: a hair brush.

Penelope...

is a Richardson's ground squirrel. I dare you to visit Banff without seeing one of these very common squirrels in the wild. A lot of people call them "gophers." You'll usually see the Richardon's standing at attention, watching for danger, squeaking out a warning to the neighbours. Look for Penelope with her trusty tape measure.

Gillroy returns ...

And then in August 2009, it seems the whole world discovered the charm of Banff's squirrels. An accidental squirrel-in-photo vacation picture taken by visitors Melissa and Jackson Brandts was picked up by National Geographic as its Photo of the Day, and within hours, an Internet craze was launched. Thousands of enthusiasts took the curious golden-mantled squirrel that "crashed" the original photo, and transported it (is that really you, Gillroy?) to locales and settings throughout the world.