Twiggy the Water-Skiing Squirrel

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Twiggy the Water-Skiing Squirrel is a world-famous animal novelty act, featuring a squirrel who water skis around a heated pool. The act was begun in 1979 by Chuck and Lou Ann Best, and starting with an appearance on Real People, has been featured on numerous television shows, newspaper articles, and websites.[1]

The Bests and Twiggy are based in Deltona, Florida. They found the orphaned squirrel after Hurricane David, raising it as a family pet, who would ride on their shoulders even as they dipped in the pool. Having purchased a remote-controlled boat for his daughter, Chuck demurred handing over the controls, joking that he had to teach Twiggy to water-ski; the joke was soon taken seriously, albeit with no initial intent of publicity.^[1]

Twiggy is actually several gray squirrels who have been trained in succession (the first was killed after trying to paw bread from a toaster). The retired squirrels live out their lives as family pets.^[1] The squirrels are trained to ride on buoyant foam blocks, which are then towed behind a remote-controlled boat.

Twiggy has appeared in two Frat Pack films, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story and Anchorman: the Legend of Ron Burgundy.[2] He also appeared on TV in the movie Down to Earth.