This little critter was so busy chewing away at the base of this pinecone that he was not even aware of my presence. The Douglas Squirrel is about as handsome as they come with their brown underbelly and rings around their eyes. They populate most of the western coastal areas of North America from Central California up to the southern half of British Columbia. One of their favorite meals are the seeds from pinecones as this little guy is demonstrating.

The irony behind this image is that my very first attempt at wildlife photography was with a Squirrel. Well actually it was a Chipmunk, but the same family. I was 16 and it was my very first Deer hunt and I was hunting with a Bow I had made in wood shop.

In my pocket was my Mother’s Kodak 110, a compact point and shoot camera. I had brought the camera along to document the trophy buck that I had planned on shooting.

I was sneaking through the forest when the Chipmunk crossed my path. I remember that an unexplainable rush came over me that I wanted so badly to capture that scurrying little creature on film. It was such an urge, that I forgot about sneaking up on deer and grabbed the camera! I can’t tell you what ever happened to that picture I took, but I never forgot the excitement. It was less than 2 years later that I got my first camera and the first thing I did was to save for a Telephoto lens.

Fast forward several years and I am not sneaking through the woods, but casually walking as I had just photographed a Lighthouse in the early morning light. This time I was armed with the right camera. Even though I was there to shoot a Landscape photo, I always have my wildlife camera and lens hanging over my shoulder. After all, I was a Boy Scout, and our slogan was “Be Prepared”. When it comes to photoshoots, I usually am well equipped for whatever may happen.

I just love the emotion this image portrays, such a photogenic little guy. I’ll be hanging this picture up along side my other favorite critter shot, my Columbian Ground Squirrel from Montana. If you could envision this pinecone eating Squirrel hanging on your wall, just click the blue button above!