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Transfer over, bears — it’s squirrel season in Texas. The state’s first-ever Fats Squirrel Week topped its inaugural champion: Chunkosaurus Rex, a plump resident of Dinosaur Valley State Park close to Glen Rose. The competition, hosted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Division (TPWD), invited Texans to vote on-line for his or her favourite fluffy contenders, shining a lightweight on the state’s thriving park wildlife.
As CBS Texas reported, Chunkosaurus Rex out-chonked 15 different squirrels in a bracket-style competitors modeled after Alaska’s standard Fats Bear Week. The pleasant battle drew hundreds of votes and feedback from park guests and wildlife followers statewide.
Texas held its first-ever Fats Squirrel Week to rejoice native wildlife.
A Bracket of Bushy-Tailed Contenders
The competition started with 16 squirrels representing parks throughout Texas. Pictures of every competitor—full with playful nicknames like “Nutella,” “Stanley the Texas Tank,” and “Chunk Norris”—had been posted on particular person park Fb pages for public voting. Followers appreciated, commented, and tagged buddies to push their favorites by way of every spherical.
The ultimate showdown got here all the way down to Chunkosaurus Rex from Dinosaur Valley and Chunk Norris from Fort Richardson State Park. When the mud (and fur) settled, Chunkosaurus claimed the crown.
“Dinosaur Valley is proud to be the house of this behemoth,” park workers wrote in celebration, encouraging different rivals to “begin working in your winter physique” for subsequent 12 months’s occasion, based on MySanAntonio.
Enjoyable with a Objective
Whereas the competitors delivered loads of laughs, it additionally served a critical objective. TPWD mentioned the objective was to focus on how animals put together for the colder months, when squirrels rely on additional fats reserves to outlive. The occasion inspired Texans to attach with native parks and higher perceive native species’ seasonal habits.
“Transfer over bears… it’s Texas’ flip to showcase the fluffiest, chubbiest squirrels round!” the company wrote on social media. The lighthearted tone and social media engagement helped the marketing campaign attain audiences far past park regulars, sparking a wave of “chunky squirrel” fan artwork and memes throughout the state.
Nature Consciousness by way of Humor
For TPWD, humor proved to be an efficient option to make conservation relatable. As the Houston Chronicle reviews, Fats Squirrel Week was designed to get folks speaking in regards to the animals typically missed in favor of extra iconic species. It reminded Texans that wildlife price celebrating could be discovered not solely in distant parks but in addition in their very own backyards.
“Chunkosaurus is a fan favourite at Dinosaur Valley State Park,” TPWD wrote in a publish. “He strikes surprisingly quick within the quest for acorns and camper crumbs.”
The competition could have began as a joke, however its message—celebrating nature in all sizes and styles—clearly struck a chord. Judging by the general public response, Fats Squirrel Week could quickly develop into a brand new fall custom in Texas, one nut at a time.
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