FACT CHECK #4LJTP6WT

WHAT WE FOUND

Historical and modern evidence confirms that squirrels have been depicted or photographed perched on a woman's shoulder 346. The Luttrell Psalter, a 14th-century manuscript, features an illustration of a squirrel riding the shoulder of a lady 34. Modern stock photography collections also include images of a playful squirrel on a smiling woman's shoulder 6. Regarding the setting, squirrels are primarily forest-dwelling mammals that prefer deciduous and mixed forests 1 and are often found in trees such as red oaks 5. While some sources describe squirrels in other poses—such as on a log looking over their own shoulder 8 or on a woman's lap in a portrait 2—the specific claim of a squirrel on a woman's shoulder is well-supported 346. A separate source mentions a colorful bird on a woman's shoulder, which is a distinct animal and should not be confused with the squirrel 9.

SOURCES

1. 1 · bbcearth.comNEWS
   Squirrel facts | Mammals

   TIER A

2. 2 · themorgan.orgWEB
   016. A Lady with a Squirrel and a Starling (Anne Lovell?) | The Morgan Library & Museum

   TIER B

3. 3 · medievalkarl.comWEB
   An Attempt at the Definitive Squirrel Post – Medieval Karl

   TIER B

4. 4 · inthemedievalmiddle.comWEB
   In the Middle: An Attempt at the Definitive Squirrel Post

   TIER B

5. 5 · toddmitchellbooks.comWEB
   Twelve things about Squirrels that will blow your mind

   TIER B

6. 6 · dreamstime.comWEB
   136 Squirrel Shoulder Stock Photos - Free & Royalty-Free Stock Photos from Dreamstime

   TIER B

7. 7 · havahart.comWEB
   Facts About Squirrels | Squirrel Facts | Havahart®

   TIER B

8. 8 · alamy.comWEB
   Red squirrel (Scuirus vulgaris) perched on log looking over shoulder Stock Photo - Alamy

   TIER B

9. 9 · unsplash.comWEB
   A colorful bird perched on the back of a woman's ...

   TIER B

10. 10 · hellopoetry.comWEB
    "squirrels" poems - Hello Poetry

    TIER B