Rock Squirrels and A Least Chipmunk
If you’re like me, you can’t help but take a photo now and then of squirrels, they are cute and will freeze in poses, hoping to blend in and you not see them. Or maybe they are wondering and sniffing to see if you have something to eat. They make for great wildlife photography practice with the abundance of several species throughout the United States.
The squirrels that are part of the Kaibab National Forest in Arizona are primarily Rock Squirrels. They camouflage pretty well with the area’s red rock. If I hadn’t seen him run to the rock, I might not have seen this next one off in the distance.
Rock Squirrel, Kaibab Lake
I met up with another Rock Squirrel while at the Grand Canyon where signs were posted throughout to please not feed the squirrels.
It was while I was standing back and away from the crowd, there was a startling rustle in the tree next to me. We made eye contact.
Rock Squirrel, Grand Canyon
He continued to move around the tree, munching here and there, but always checking on my location.
“You still there?”
“Hey, you got anything good to eat?”
I walked away when he started to become more interested in me, I figured he was wondering if I had any food. Nope. Nada. Not for you.
This next fella proved some tourists don’t follow the rules. He jumped out from the railing and ran up to a lady, and stood on his hind legs. She was so tickled and bent over to take his photo with her cell phone.
He then reached up to try and take it!
Begging Rock Squirrel, “I’ll take that!”
We all started to laugh while the lady snatched up her phone. I then got this next shot.
WHAT????
The lady wasn’t about to give him her cell phone. The Rock Squirrel quickly gave up and ran back behind the railing to the rocks. It was obvious he was a pro, probably doing this many times a day.
Chipmunks are also a member of the squirrel family. They are smaller and tend to not be a nuisance to society as the larger squirrels we all know so well.
Heading out of the Kaibab Lake recreational area, something caught my eye. Backlit from the late afternoon sun, a tiny Least Chipmunk was busy nibbling on a pine needle. I shot my photos out of the window of our running truck.
Least Chipmunk, Lake Kaibab
The smallest of all chipmunks at 4-7 inches long and only weighing 1-2 ounces, the Least Chipmunk is widely distributed throughout the United States.
Seeing our truck backing up, this little fella dropped to the ground and continued to nibble.
I was tickled with this photo op, and we started to roll on when he jumped back on top of the rock.
We stopped again and I took a couple more photos. He was now getting wary of us.
I snapped above, and we rolled on. Bet he went back to eating!
I felt lucky to have spotted that tiny chipmunk.
So I say, how can anyone deny the cuteness of squirrels and chipmunks?!!
Photos by Donna 
Love the your pics Donna, these are little creatures I have not seen before, thanks for sharingyour great captures, and continue enjoying your adventure:-)
Thanks so much Ashley! 🙂
Such great pics Donna and what a funny squirrel! 😝
Thanks so much Jodi! They can be so silly-looking! 🙂
Marvelous captures of these squirrels and chipmunks. We have been approached by them also in our travels, and I got the impression they now depend on tourists for a good part of their diet!
Thanks so much Hien! Yes, you’re probably right, so many people carry snacks and coolers, I’m sure the squirrels sniff out the goodies and then do their great act at begging. How can they resist?!
No one can deny, and boy you read my mind! Been wanting to draw these guys, bless you! Terrific head shots for my face challenge, donna! The hardest part will be picking my favorites to try first! Love those two begging poses, and these will really help me with their anatomy, so great. Bless your bones! You made my morning with these. 💜
Awwww, thanks so much Laura! I’m used to the Eastern grey squirrel, and these Rock Squirrels have such a lovely chestnut/rust brown throughout, I do think they are beautiful. Wish I had time sooner to check my blog comments to know sooner, but definitely you made my evening! Can’t wait to see your talent put to work, I know it’ll be fabulous! 🙂 💜
I think it’ll take much practice based on my drawings last night but I’m pretty stubborn lol. Thanks Donna. 💜
My stubbornness works side by side with my challenges! I bet you’re the same!! 💜
hehe! Thankfully. 🙂
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It’s so refreshing to feel the emotion of a person being in direct contact with Nature. Now you are in a closer look mode to land an creatures and are loving it. There’s so much to see and learn! You’re building memories that will never be erased from your mind. I’m happy for you Donna! Your photos are confirmation of what I’ve just mentioned. 🙂
HJ, you also made my evening as Laura did! Thank you so much for your wonderful comments, I am loving it, and there is a thrill on seeing wildlife. It’s blogger friends like you who have inspired me over the years. Thank you for that! 🙂
Great sequence and story. I’m a fan!!!!
Thanks so much Nick! Glad we found each other’s blog! 🙂
I really enjoyed your squirrel and chipmunk photos and encounters, Donna. There is something to learn from every creature, and so much beauty to behold.
Thanks so much Jet! You are so right. Whether good and bad to us or our society, each creature has it’s own uniqueness and beauty from a very extraordinary Creator above. 🙂
What a nice post! The contact, eye-to-eye no less, with your “subjects” just makes me smile!! hugs
Thanks so much Elizabeth! Wildlife always puts a smile on my face, I enjoy watching them as much as photographing them! Critters can be so darn cute! hugs
Definitely irresistible and I’m very glad you caught these marvelous shots and shared them. Don’t know how you could resist that little beggar, but it’s better for him/her not to get too familiar with humans.
Thanks so much Gunta! I know, it’s just not good for wildlife to depend on humans, I would have said something to the lady if she was going to try to give him something to eat. I was glad he ran back to hide before someone else came up with food.
I liked the squirrel close ups in particular. I am glad that you didn’t resist the irresistible.
Thanks so much Tom! I am glad that one didn’t jump out at me, I’d have probably screamed. Doing that is great for public embarrassment. lol
Great photos Donna! My daughter has a thing for squirrels, and even has a facebook page “Helladamnsquirrels”, which mostly consists of squirrels and she and her boyfriend feed at Lake Merritt in Okland, CA. Check it out sometime, if you are in a ‘squirrely’ mood!
Thanks so much Susan! For sure, I’m check out your daughter’s facebook page, I can always be in a squirrely mood! 🙂
Oh my gosh Donna. Too cute for words.
Those are the cutest squirrel pictures ever!
Thanks so much Terry! I really had to share them, just too darn cute. 🙂
They are so cute! Great images and lovely story too.
Thanks so much Deborah!
How amazing to see these wonderful creatures so close up! The head shots are fantastic, makes me appreciate their delicate, cute faces! 🙂 x
Thanks Becky, they are too darn cute! I’ve encountered so many, they make great ops for practice! 🙂
Great shots, Donna. They have such adorable little faces! Love the begging squirrel. How could one resist? 🙂
Thanks Sylvia! He was a funny character indeed! 🙂
The begging squirrel is a hoot, it must practice its routine often! I loved the way that you were able to show us the personality of each of the squirrels and the chipmunk, the photos are excellent.
Thanks so much Jerry! The begging squirrel was quite the actor. I’m sure he does it often every day with all the visitors at the Grand Canyon, he’s got it figured out. 🙂 As you know, they are super fun to photograph, they pose always in a cheerful way!
Love these pictures, Donna! The begging Rock Squirrel is hilarious 🙂
Thanks Helen! That Rock Squirrel was quite the character. If he was smart, he’d beg for dollar bills, he’d make a fortune! 🙂
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I love cute pets.