Camera-hogging squirrel an Internet sensation

[Marilyn. 340]

The camera's self-timer was set and Alberta's Banff National Park was providing a beautiful backdrop for a beaming couple when a wide-eyed ground squirrel popped into the frame and stole the shot.

The camera's focus locked onto the squirrel and the squirrel stared right back. A few feet behind the furry model, Melissa Brandts and her husband Jackson burst into laughter, their smiles blurred by the camera lens now focussed on the intruder.

The finished product? A surprising, funny and adorable shot photographer Melissa calls "A once in a lifetime moment."

"We were laughing about this little guy for days," Brandts wrote to National Geographic.

The squirrel photo, submitted to the magazine, was posted in its "Daily Dozen" gallery of readers' pictures. Since then, newspapers around the world have written about the curious squirrel and links to the photo have flooded the web.

Some people can't get enough of the squirrel and have already turned the critter into an Internet meme. In a practice dubbed "squirrel bombing," the same Alberta squirrel is cut out and can be found on the Net popping up in front of a Bill Clinton press conference and a Paris Hilton red carpet appearance.

For the two American hikers, though, the squirrel will remain a warm, fuzzy reminder of their trip to Canada.

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/681176

Edited August 15, 2009 by Marilyn.

[almaty 19]

lol.. i like that squirrel

[Ban Hammer 13,651]

julie get out of the camera!

[essjay 0]

[DIARD 1]

This is all over the news today. Cute little guy though.

[Marilyn. 340]

yeah I saw a clip from the Today show about this squirrel...

[Ms. Squirrel 11]

I've always loved the camera.

eta: That is a beautiful picture in your signature, Marilyn!

Edited August 15, 2009 by Ms. Squirrel

[NickD 203]

We share our land with at least a dozen squirrels, seem to get along okay, while I rake the leaves, they pick up all the acorns. But we sure would like to shoot those rabbits eating our expensive bushes.

I really envy those squirrels, everything they need to survive and raise families is in our yard, or maybe it's their yard and we are the intruders. No energy bills, no taxes, and they seem to be having a blast jumping from tree to tree. They spend a lot more time playing than working. In the fall after the leaves drop, can see their large nests up in the trees. It doesn't take them very long to build or maintain them. Have no idea where they go to the bathroom, never found traces of it, maybe they don't have to go, or maybe they use the neighbors yard. But they always keep their distance from us humans even if it's only a couple of feet.

[TimandJoyce 1]

What an adorable picture!! I'd love for that to happen. Guess I better figure out my self timer! LOL

Not to mention...Beautiful Alberta.

[GabiandVi 34]

We share our land with at least a dozen squirrels, seem to get along okay, while I rake the leaves, they pick up all the acorns. But we sure would like to shoot those rabbits eating our expensive bushes.

I really envy those squirrels, everything they need to survive and raise families is in our yard, or maybe it's their yard and we are the intruders. No energy bills, no taxes, and they seem to be having a blast jumping from tree to tree. They spend a lot more time playing than working. In the fall after the leaves drop, can see their large nests up in the trees. It doesn't take them very long to build or maintain them. Have no idea where they go to the bathroom, never found traces of it, maybe they don't have to go, or maybe they use the neighbors yard. But they always keep their distance from us humans even if it's only a couple of feet.

My parents had squirrel problems. They had gnawed into the roof and were nesting in the ceiling. They got a specialist out who set humane traps. In just a week he trapped something like 100 squirrels. My parents lived on only 2 acres, but my father had cut down as few trees as possible to build the house, so it was a haven for the vermin.

Edited August 15, 2009 by GabiandVi