Ranatuor's Lore - Squirrels in LOTRO (Squirrel Appreciation Day)

He's wandered all over Middle-earth...

Appreciating the squirrels in LOTRO

Black Squirrel of Mirkwood

“Time was when a squirrel could go from tree to tree from what is now the Shire to Dunland west of Isengard.” – Elrond, The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two Chapter 2: “The Council of Elrond” by JRR Tolkien.

Wanderer of woodland, gatherer of acorns and pine cones, fur so varied they may compete with the woven robes of Saruman of Many Colours!

Today is Squirrel Appreciation Day, so I’m going to take a quick look at the squirrels of LOTRO.

In LOTRO we find many types of squirrel, all non-combat creatures (“critters” and pets):

Enedwaith Squirrel

VARIOUS AREAS
Red Squirrel: https://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Red_Squirrel
Grey Squirrel: https://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Grey_Squirrel

NORTH DOWNS
Northern Squirrel: https://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Northern_Squirrel

FOROCHEL
Silvan Squirrel: https://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Silvan_Squirrel

TROLLSHAWS
Silver Squirrel: https://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Silver_Squirrel

ENEDWAITH
Squirrel: https://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Squirrel

LONE-LANDS
Striped Squirrel: https://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Striped_Squirrel

THORIN’S GATE / MISTY MOUNTAINS
Winter Squirrel: https://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Winter_Squirrel

MIRKWOOD / THE EAVES OF FANGORN / NORTH & SOUTH ITHILIEN
Black Squirrel: No Lotro-wiki entry as yet.

There may be other variations, in the newer areas such as Rohan and Gondor.

As well as the landscape squirrels, there are also squirrel pets – one for Lore-Master only (non-combat pet) and three types for all characters (cosmetic pets).

LORE-MASTER NON-COMBAT PET
Squirrel: https://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Item%3ATome_of_the_Squirrel

COSMETIC PETS
Brown Squirrel: https://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Brown_Squirrel
Red Squirrel: https://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Red_Squirrel_(Skill)
White Squirrel: https://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/White_Squirrel

OTHER SQUIRRELS IN LOTRO
There are several quest and landscape squirrels that deserve mention.

Part of the Shire Flying the Coop series of quests, the Flying the Coop: Bree-land quest has George the Rooster (of Sanderson’s Farm) sending you out into the wild, looking for animals to talk to, after he tells you about his fear of wolves taking over the Shire. In the Southern-most part of Nen Harn you find a bold Grey Squirrel who has visions of grandeur in mind:  

"Wolves? Ha! We fear no wolves! They will not withstand our onslaught. They will be the next to fall!"

"After we destroy the helpless red squirrels, we shall conquer the wolves, and then the world! No one can stop us!"

-- Grey Squirrel, Nen Harn, Bree-land [21.6S, 42.6W]

…quite the charmer! And perhaps a little nod to the real-life issues of the introduction of greys into the UK which had previously been a red squirrel domain. Something close my heart and home!

A squirrel also plays a part in another storyline, “Confront the Old Took” in Adelard Took’s library in the Great Smials, the Shire.

Finally, just outside of Aldburg in Eastfold, Rohan [68.9S, 61.4W], lies a small ruined house with some rather furry occupants! This house lies close to the “Goldilocks” house, two fun Easter Eggs put in by the developers!