Squirrel Joins Family Photo

In the isolated beauty of the Canadian lakes, Melissa and Jackson Brandts positioned their camera for the perfect holiday picture.  While snuggling up close and smiling for the shot, an unexpected visitor stopped by…

The little ground squirrel popped up in the foreground after Melissa Brandts and her husband had set the timer on their camera for a picture of them by Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park.

Mrs. Brandts explained: ‘We had our camera set up on some rocks and were getting ready when this curious little ground squirrel appeared, became intrigued with the sound of the focusing camera and popped right into our shot. It was a once in a lifetime moment – we were laughing about this little guy for days!’

The image is so exceptional that, had it not ran on the prestigious National Geographic magazine’s website, many might have assumed it had been digitally altered.