Scuirus rococo
The ancestral origins of the Fancy Squirrel have not been determined; however they are likely a subspecies of the fox squirrel. The most well-known breeders of Fancy Squirrels are the Stult family who supposedly began breeding squirrels in the 1950’s as pets. Edith Stult founded the North American Squirrel Association in 1969 along with the first ever squirrel beauty pageant. Typically, the squirrel with the largest, fullest tail won the-se competitions, and soon breeders were trying to breed for the biggest tail. Edith’s daughter, Alyssa Stult, currently owns the record holder for largest tail. These squirrels are no longer climbers as their tails are too large and they display definite neurological problems, often going stiff and fall-ing over quite suddenly. Alyssa Stult argues this as an improvement as the squirrels are now “much more docile than those tree varmints.”