One of several squirrels (well, 9 actually) who visit my garden daily! These big fluffy tails are more than just attractive, they are necessary because they aid in balance when the squirrels jump from place to place, especially from tree to tree. They also serve to keep them warm. I've seen several squirrels lately without tails, or with partial tails, and they were no doubt caught by the tail but managed to escape, losing all or part of their tail.