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Squirrels in Parque de Los Berros

Saturday, August 23, 2008 | 0 comments

On our way to Angel Carbajal we reached Parque de Los Berros, a well-known small park in Xalapa, close to our house. Esme asked if I wanted to visit the park. Since it was still early, I might be lucky and be able to take photos of the gray squirrels that live in the park.

Mexican gray squirrel (Sciurus aureogaster) on a tree root.
Mexican gray squirrel (Sciurus aureogaster) on a tree root.

Soon after we had entered the park, we spotted our first squirrel. While holding the camera with one hand, I tried to lure the little mamal closer with the other. But there was not enough light to get a steady shot, so after a few attempts we continued our walk.

Mexican gray squirrel (Sciurus aureogaster) on a tree root.
Mexican gray squirrel (Sciurus aureogaster) on a tree root. (large)

After a few minutes we spotted another squirrel in a tree. At the foot of the tree there were a lot of peanut shells; remainders of the peanuts people had been feeding the squirrels recently. So I picked up several shells, and held them on my outstretched left hand, while holding the camera with my right hand. And this time I was twice lucky: the light was better;no flash required, and the squirrel came down the tree, and stayed close to me long enough to take several photos.

Mexican gray squirrel (Sciurus aureogaster) on a tree, going down.
Mexican gray squirrel (Sciurus aureogaster) on a tree, going down.

A little later I tried to lure down another squirrel with some small berries I had picked up from the ground. It came quite close, even sniffed at the berries in my hand, but me pressing the button on the camera scared it away. So not a usable photo. We decided to continue our walk to Angel Carbajal. On our way out of the park I made a photo of another squirrel coming down a tree.

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