The Postal Service will release its Squirrels & Chipmunks in Snow stamps on Friday, Sept. 25.
The stamps will debut at the Milcopex philatelic exhibition in Brookfield, WI.
The 20-stamp booklet features four photographs of an eastern gray squirrel, an American red squirrel and two eastern chipmunks.
Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using existing photographs by Fiona M. Donnelly of an eastern chipmunk holding its paws to its mouth in a quiet moment of feeding; an eastern gray squirrel caught on camera mid-munch by Matt Prosser; an eastern chipmunk with cheeks bulging with food photographed by Martha M. Stewart; and an American red squirrel with small paws raised to its mouth photographed by Ross Taylor.
While many USPS stamps have depicted animals in winter settings, these are the first to spotlight the woodland creatures.
Gray and red squirrels stay active all winter, leaping from branch to branch and digging through snow drifts for hidden snacks. As temperatures drop, the American red squirrel grows fluffy ear tufts and a thicker coat. The eastern chipmunk stocks its burrow with food, then dozes through the season’s coldest days.
The Forever stamps will be available at Post Offices and on usps.com.
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