Spotted this guy out in the open, they are very rare around here mostly you just see eastern grey.

I was driving home and turned into the neighborhood and saw him out in the grass. By the time I stopped put the car in park and grabbed my camera he run up the tree and I only got a couple of shots.

[pete-tarmigan]

This is also eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), but simply the melanistic morph of the species. This morph is more numerous than the gray morph in many areas on the other side of Lake Erie in southern Ontario.

[aslyfox]

not to quibble

ok, I am going to quibble

you have misidentified that squirrel, it is not one of Otis' Special Forces

it is one of the more rarely seen or photographed member of the long rumored Otis' Ninja Squad

their exact numbers are unknown and it is suspected that one of the ways their security is kept is that they "eliminate" those who observe them.

Count yourself lucky that you survived.

________________________________

Last fall, I unknowingly tried to photographed a member of Otis' Secret Spies and since my photograph was slightly out of focus I survived.

I know this because Rupert told me what I had done and why I survived

[KiloHotelphoto]

I must go into hiding now and only post comments and pics as a guest.

[aslyfox]

I must go into hiding now and only post comments and pics as a guest.

IMHO

there is no need for that, if your life was in danger, you wouldn't have survived the initial encounter

however, like in most things, I am no expert

and my opinion and $ will buy coffee at the diner

[reh321]

Nice series of pictures - I hope Rupert saw them.