That Pesky Squirrel!

Kathy Riordan

Location: Florida, United States
Birthday: April 27

Bio: One woman's view of life and the universe. Follow @katriord on Twitter.

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Editor’s Pick

AUGUST 14, 2009 9:23AM

Rate: 48 Flag

Everyone loves a vacation in the great outdoors, especially when it's somewhere as beautiful as Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies.

Melissa and Jackson Brandts, visiting from Minnesota, loved it so much they decided to stop and take a picture in front of scenic Lake Minnewanka.

They set up the timer on the camera, got in the shot, waited for the click, and. . .

cgy-squirrel-brandts

. . .got a crasher.

The couple since submitted their photo of 'Crasher Squirrel' to a National Geographic photo contest, and the magazine posted it August 7th. The photogenic squirrel has since appeared in several photoshopped knockoffs of their now-viral pic.

Like. . .

its-fake-i-can-see-the-wires-the-film-is-playing-25895-1250220080-66

Moon Landing Squirrel

gothic-crasher-9476-1250247355-74

American Gothic Squirrel

and. . .my personal favorite. . .

well-thats-like-just-your-opinion-24233-1250218343-31

The Squirrel Abides.

Author tags:

moon landing, american gothic, big lebowski, crasher squirrel, viral, lake minnewanka, squirrel, travel photo, surprise, photography, national geographic, jackson brandts, melissa brandts, oops

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Comments

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Squirrel! :-D

Awesome.

Denise Montgomery

August 14, 2009 09:28 AM

i fear i'm becoming a bit overexposed.

the squirrel

August 14, 2009 09:38 AM

this is so funny. And I swear I know this guy. My wife and I were there two years ago and took this photo. Please check this out;
http://open.salon.com/blog/bob_eckstein/2008/11/20/backyard_whodunit

Bob Eckstein

August 14, 2009 10:02 AM

Okay I really did laugh out, especially at the last picture. Dude!

Nikki Stern

August 14, 2009 10:07 AM

Gimme the squirrel. He makes me want to live again~!

Poet of Logan Square

August 14, 2009 10:08 AM

Wonderful! Rated.

mynameise

August 14, 2009 10:10 AM

Dude! Love the Big Lebowski critter!

gracielou

August 14, 2009 10:11 AM

This is great!

Indie Girl

August 14, 2009 10:11 AM

:) oh that is too funny- what a great photo

hyblaean- Julie

August 14, 2009 10:17 AM

That's a big squirrel!

Jeanette DeMain

August 14, 2009 10:18 AM

Ha!

cartouche

August 14, 2009 10:25 AM

Love this photo, hilarious!

Stephanie Kuohujoki

August 14, 2009 10:25 AM

Gotta love squirrels.

Oh, and chipmunks too. They are like the chicken mcnuggets of the rodent world.

Thumbed.

Bill S.

August 14, 2009 10:26 AM

That squirrel writes here, and never misses a photo op. Funny!

patrick daniels

August 14, 2009 10:54 AM

Hey Kathy, I saw that on MSNBC last night. What a riot. Talk about stealing the limelight!

Rated.

john blumenthal

August 14, 2009 11:04 AM

Thanks, all, for the ratings, the thumbs up, the kind words, and especially, editors, for the Editors Pick. I'm afraid the squirrel gets all the credit for this one. And the Brandts. And, well, National Geographic. And, of course, the Dude.

Kathy Riordan

August 14, 2009 11:07 AM

p.s. Ahem, while I have your attention, as long as you're all here admiring the photo of Crasher Squirrel, please take the time to check out my equally adorable pic of baby bird, "The Hitchhiker," who'll celebrate his First Hatchday tomorrow.

Kathy Riordan

August 14, 2009 11:10 AM

DUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ghost writer

August 14, 2009 11:11 AM

Best laugh of my morning yet! This is priceless!!!! Congrats on your National Graphic photo pic!!!

Just Cathy

August 14, 2009 12:15 PM

Did you hear about the Squirrel's visit to Vatican City? People were amazed. They all wanted to know who the guy was in the pointy hat was talking to the Squirrel.

OEsheepdog

August 14, 2009 12:16 PM

hilarious.

Stim

August 14, 2009 12:25 PM

That is an excellent photo!

asianshoebox

August 14, 2009 12:36 PM

I love it!

Susan Cross

August 14, 2009 12:55 PM

The squirrel abides is actually a timeless phrase. Nicely done.

Lonnie Lazar

August 14, 2009 01:36 PM

Great Squirrel :) and he seems to get around a lot too...

seaedb

August 14, 2009 01:55 PM

I believe Crasher Squirrel is where Woody Allen got his idea for Zelig!

Rated

RonP01

August 14, 2009 03:33 PM

But...... where's Bullwinkle?

Rated for perfect cuteness.

RenaissanceLady

August 14, 2009 03:42 PM

This is so funny!!! Such a perfect cute little squirrel face.

hrndnwmn

August 14, 2009 04:28 PM

LOL I hope he got his nuts worth!

LadyMiko

August 14, 2009 05:09 PM

What a persistent little Turkey!..........

Gary Justis

August 14, 2009 05:48 PM

Those little suckers are everywhere at Banff. My daughter has been encouraging me to send pictures from last year's Alaska trip to NatGeo, but I don't have anything to top that!

GeeBee

August 14, 2009 06:53 PM

The Squirrel Abides is perfect!

Steve Klingaman

August 14, 2009 08:32 PM

Awww, I love this little guy! I saw him on Cute Overload (awesome website of terminal cuteness, for those who haven't yet discovered it) but didn't realize he'd actually made it to the moon -- and then returned to burrow into pop culture everywhere.

Fabulous! Thanks for posting. ;)

WriterVixen

August 14, 2009 08:56 PM

We grow 'em big out west, squirrels included. :)

emma peel

August 14, 2009 09:16 PM

Does this mean I have to stop looking at Hitler der Untergang rants on youtube?

Tony Wang

August 15, 2009 05:26 AM

Noting we beat Mashable to this one. They don't have The Squirrel Abides, however.

Kathy Riordan

August 15, 2009 10:11 AM

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA... can't... stop...laughing....HAHAHAHA!

ybmagpye

August 15, 2009 10:19 AM

Baby bird is happy for the squirrel. Please stop by and wish him a happy birthday if you're so inclined:
http://open.salon.com/blog/kathy_riordan/2009/08/13/the_hitchhiker

Kathy Riordan

August 15, 2009 10:47 AM

By the way, does anyone else think Caddyshack when they see that picture? I mean, do you not see the part in the movie where the gopher is dancing when you see this picture?

Tony Wang

August 15, 2009 06:47 PM

life needs a bit 'o humor!

mynameise

August 15, 2009 09:26 PM

Thanks for the laugh Kathy...well done

trilogy

August 15, 2009 10:28 PM

Oh man. Once ina lifetime? Probably once in a millenia. I love animals in and out of the wild and the Rockies are full of creatures.

There's a park North of Las Vegas my daughter and I frequent. The place is packed with chipmunks who aren't the least bit scared of humans. If you put corn or some other thing in your hand, they'll actually walk right up, sit on your hand and have a picknick. Cool little creatures.