It has many names: skwerlhuggery, skwerlyphilia, bushytail envy... the list goes on. But, one thing for certain, those afflicted risk everything: self, family, friends, careers... And it can strike anyone at any time: your sister, her cuzin, the parish priest, your mechanic... YOU!

In it's most benign form, the individual shows an exaggerated interest in the slavering chitterboxes, even to the point of taking hundreds of bushytail photos and posting them on the net. So very sad!

But, as the victim sinks into skwerlhuggery's abyss, they'll do anything for their skwerlball masters. They turn their backs on their friends and family, rejecting their loving concern, and spend much of their time hanging around skwerl-infested parks, sitting in trees, even moving to heavily forested areas of the planet where they preach the heresy of squirrel world domination.

Is it a physical affliction? A mental impairment? A moral debasement? Well, you won't find it listed in the the Merck Manual, the DSM IV, and/or the Bible. And 9 out of 10 doctors have never heard of skwerlhuggery. However, our research objectively shows that skwerlhuggers are the miserable victims of skwerlien mind control...

But, friends, there is hope! Hope with Skwerlhuggers Anonymous!

We here at scary squirrel world feel your pain!!! But you can shrug off the horror of skwerlhuggery with our simple THREE step plan.

That's right! Only THREE small steps will bring you back to reality; not the 12 or more steps required by other "anonymous" programs. You don't even have to apologize to anyone (although sabotaging the skwerl baffle on your neighbors' birdfeeder was extreme. So, you probably should apologize for that). Here they are, the...

1. ADMIT THAT YOU'RE IN THE CLUTCHES OF SQUIRREL WORLD DOMINATION

2. RESOLVE TO TURN AWAY FROM THE SKWERL-SIDE

3. FIND A NEW CRITTER TO LUV-LUV-LUV

There you have it. And the magic, the cure, whatever you want to call it, is at the THIRD step of our THREE step program, the New Critter Step. Think of your new friend as your buddy against skwerlien temptations and mind control.

And to point you in the right direction, we offer below some of the many Skwerlhuggers Anonymous Approved animals that are just waiting for your undying love and attention:

From L to R: Our Pals the badger, barn owl, swift fox, and coyote
click buttons for fact sheets (open in new windows)

Of course, what Our Pals all have in common is that they eat chitterboxes. And there's plenty more of 'em out there - all different kinds of critters - allies in the struggle against squirrel world domination. So, we'll post some more now and then; add more info and some related links; and you can suggest your favorite New Critter, too. Just send us your suggestions using the handy form below: