We live in the vicinity of a natural conservation area in a peaceful suburb of Helsinki, the capital of Finland in the northern Europe. A wide untouched forest nearby provides a broad terrain for many wild animals like elks, foxes, raccoon dogs and others. Puttering around our neighbourhood there are also smaller animals like hares, muskrats, mice, moles, hedgehogs, bats and many birds as well as squirrels, of course.

Squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) have been our frequent visitors for a few years (they climb up to our balcony every now and then) and we've been observing them from close range. In spite of the fact that these furry rodents are rather annoying pests from time to time, it's been fun to watch how they behave, quarrel, play, eat and breed, each animal being individual.

The following amateur photos were taken during these few years the squirrels have shown an interest toward us . . . or is it only the food?