"WHO'S THE FOOL NOW??"

Red Squirrel - 5 Photos

Came across this little Red Squirrel just sitting on a snowy tree branch. Was a little hesitant in retrieving the camera from the bag as usually this is a cue for the squirrel to disappear from view but "if you don't try, you don't get". Red Squirrels are a native species in Alberta & who can resist that little face.

So got the camera out, set up for the shot and the squirrel moved down onto a nearby cut tree trunk and stayed.

And stayed, and stayed, and ..... 

In fact, he/she, although changing position occasionally, did not move from the tree trunk (Photo #1 through Photo #3). At one point, he/she froze in position (Photo #4) for minutes at a time. What came to mind was a squirrel "playing possum". "If I don't move, they will eventually lose interest and move on."

So now I'm a little concerned but a lot curious and I'm thinking what are you doing, squirrel. You're not bouncing off. You're not scouting for food. 

And at the point, where I'm starting to believe this squirrel probably isn't the brightest acorn on the branch, he/she pivoted on the trunk, reached up and pulled off the remaining full berries, hidden from my view, from a shrub just above his/her head, and promptly began stuffing them down. And this was repeated several times, with excess berries placed on the trunk (Photo #5).

Obviously, with such a cache of nutritious food available close-by, the temptation to stay was too great but the squirrel wanted to ensure the area was safe.

So - who's the fool now??? Never, never underestimate the intelligence of wildlife, no matter what their size. :) 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5