The Ground Squirrel

During our first full day in Estes Park, my husband and I drove into the Rocky Mountain National Park for an "easy" hike. We stopped up at Bear Lake (shown in yesterday's photograph) and walked a nice, semi-paved trail around it. Being that it was October, the off season, we were practically alone ... Just us and nature.

As we rounded a bend, we saw this little guy mulling around in the pine needles:

Being a lover of all animals small and fat, I quickly snapped picture after picture and was astounded when it actually came closer (only a couple feet away) to investigate us.

It took all of my willpower not to scoop it up and stuff it in our backpack ...