A Morning Walk Among Olean’s Quirky Squirrel Statues

This week, work brought me to the small town of Olean, NY, home of the Cutco Cutlery factory. I’m with Vector Marketing, which sells Cutco, and I was in town for a meeting—but I couldn’t resist sneaking in a little exploring on the side. Before the day officially began, I slipped out early for a walk. The air was cool and crisp, the kind that clears your head and wakes you up faster than any cup of coffee. The streets were almost still, with only a few cars rolling by and the gentle sounds of a small town slowly waking up. That’s when I started to notice something unexpected: decorated squirrel statues scattered around town. Some stood near sidewalks, others near storefronts or tucked beside little patches of grass. Each one had its own quirky personality and design, adding a cheerful, artsy charm to the streets. Before long, I found myself turning corners just to see if another squirrel was waiting there. What began as a simple morning walk turned into a playful little scavenger hunt—and a surprisingly delightful way to get to know Olean. Enjoy!