Some squirrels are quite frisky-friendly, suggesting that somebody feeds them. That’s what I wondered about this rascal approaching me from a tree on July 30, 2024. My wife and I came upon the rodent when walking along Louisiana Street in our San Diego neighborhood of University Heights.
There are community cats; why not squirrels? Hand feed them peanuts in a shell, for example, and you have a friend for life, which sadly might not be long. Cars and predators are top killers; then there are falls from utility lines. Cats will be blamed for hunting and catching the rodents, but coyotes, hawks, or owls are greater threats.
I used Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra to capture the Featured Image—to which Film filter was applied in Windows 11’s default Photos app. Vitals: f/3.4, ISO 40, 1/125 sec, (synthetic) 230mm (digital and optical zoom); 9:38 a.m. Composed as shot.