Sunday was another gorgeous autumn day. The air was crisp, the temperature mild and the sun was shining. Could have spent the whole day outside. As it was we went out for breakfast, a nice little restaurant which serves yummy crepes and other breakfast foods. Had the usual eggs, bacon and pancakes with a large mug of coffee. Due to the unusually beautiful weather we decided to walk home from breakfast. Not a long walk, generally takes approximately an hour to an hour and a half, depending on if we are lallygagging or not. There is a park that we usually cut through, which has a nice little pond and this wonderful tree that sits right next to it with its branches hanging over the water. One day I am going to climb that tree and sit on the branches and read. But I digress... where was I? Oh yes! I had brought my camera along with me so that I may sneak some pictures of my better half, and get some shots of the trees in their autumn foliage. The usual assortment of critters where prancing about, you know `dags', magpies and the nut fanatics. It's amazing how squirrels have become used to humans. They are now dauntless and will come right up to you, circling around, their eyes pleading for nuts. Having spotted a really adorable one a couple of yards off, I crouched down so that I may get a shot of him in his "natural" environment, slinking about looking for nuts. [I am assuming it's a "him", though I could probably be grossly mistaken] The squirrel spotted me and then began to pose for the camera. I couldn't believe it the squirrel was actually mugging for the camera. He sat up on his hind paws, front paws resting on his stomach, tail curled up attractively and looked straight at the camera as if to say "yes I know I am cute, this is my better side, take the shot."
I was flabbergasted, I have not to date seen a wild animal pose for a picture. Most wild animals that I have had the luck or chance to photograph, have either frozen in a "deer caught in the headlights" stance or have skittered of leaving me with a shot of their back ends. This is the first time that a wild animal has ever posed for me. As amazing as this event was, it does leave me with the question, "are wild animals becoming too used to humans and how dangerous can this become for them?"