I just have to be there to get a [North American] Red Squirrel to set off Nature’s automated forest alarm system (well, squirrels are Nature’s automated forest alarm system), with a combination of squeal-chucks and a shrill, drawn-out, rapid-fire “chigachigachigachigar!” which is impossible to vocally replicate unless you’re a squirrel yourself!
But armed with my Canon Rebel XS DSLR camera with a Canon EF 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens attached, maxed at full optic zoom, I was able to catch the little bugger who was giving me heck for merely enjoying some “me-time” in the woods.
You know, I think he (?) liked getting his picture taken…
Taken at the J.J. Collett Natural Area near Ponoka, Alberta, Canada on April 30, 2017.
I never thought porcupines could look so cute. Okay, so I’m a sucker for animals, but honestly the folding of the paws, and just that look on his face…
Actually, he startled me when I was walking on the trails of J.J. Collette Natural Area a few years ago. He (I call him a “he” even though I’ve no idea if it is a “he” or even a “she”) was probably no more than ten or 15 yards from the trail, just eating away at the new shoots of grasses just starting to coming up. I guess he was getting tired of eating tree bark all winter… Golly if you were a porcupine you probably would too!
Taken at the J.J. Collett Natural Area near Ponoka, AB, Canada on April 30, 2017, with my old Canon Rebel XS DSLR camera with a Canon EF 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 IS USM telephoto lens.
