GENESEE COUNTY, MI – What’s better than a water-skiing squirrel?

Yep. You guessed it.

Two. Two squirrels water skiing.

World-famous water skiing squirrel Twiggy showed off his skills in front of hundreds of spectators all week at the Genesee County Fair.

“It was really cool,” said Colton Thayer, 6, of Clio. “It was like a squirrel dream skiing in real life on a real boat.”

With more than one Twiggy being trained at a time, the show opens up new and exciting possibilities, such as a pair of squirrels water skiing at the same time.

There are many Twiggy the water-skiing squirrels who have entertained fans in person and in films, videos and television shows since the late 1970s.

Actually, it all started when Chuck and Lou Ann Best rescued a baby squirrel and adopted it into their family in Florida.

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In 1978, a baby squirrel was rescued after it was blown from its nest during a hurricane.

The couple decided to take her in and make her part of their family. The little squirrel adjusted very well to his new home in Sanford, Florida.

Her favorite activities included snuggling up warm in Lou Ann’s shirt and traveling everywhere with her new family.

She greeted the kids at the roller skating rink and accompanied them on camping and water skiing trips. She loved sitting on Chuck and Lou Ann’s shoulders while they were in the water.

Sometimes, on a hot day, she would even take a bath in the river to cool off.

Shortly thereafter, Chuck bought his daughter a remote-controlled boat for her birthday.

Her friends started teasing him and saying that he bought it himself because he was always playing with it.

In his defense, he joked, “I need to learn to steer the boat so I can teach my squirrel how to water ski.”

That’s when Chuck and Lou Ann decided to teach their pet squirrel to ski during their river trips.

“It started as a joke with my mom and dad and then it got famous and then it went from there,” Chuck Best Jr., the couple’s son who took over the business, told MLive. “My dad was always teaching different animals how to water ski and do different tricks and this is the one he did as a joke and it got famous and here we are.”

Fans will notice that Twiggy is wearing a life jacket.

In 1997, Best’s father suffered a heart attack and drowned while trying to save his stepfather’s life.

Best Jr. says Twiggy is the voice of the National Safe Boating Council’s Wear It campaign, which promotes safety on the water.

Best Jr. accompanies numerous squirrels and training each one usually requires a different schedule.

He said it depends on the squirrel.

For some squirrels, training takes only a few weeks, for others it can take up to six months.

Best Jr. says it takes a lot of training to teach a squirrel the trade, and even though his parents brought one home many decades ago, he doesn’t suggest others do the same.

“I don’t recommend keeping them as pets,” said Best Jr. “They are fun to watch, but if you find a squirrel, seek out a local rehabilitator. That way, you’ll be doing the animal a favor, too.”

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