The squatting squirrel is as surprised to see Christine as she is to stumble upon the cheeky creature (Pic: Rex/Christine Haines)
Photographer Christine Haines, owner of the tree in the picture, was apparently laughed at by the baby grey squirrel when she came face to face with the creature in her back garden in Spokane, Washington.
She had originally intended the tree hideout to be a bird box, but it was hijacked by the pesky rodent.
'My husband had constructed nest boxes in our yard to attract Northern Flicker birds,' she explained.
'One day I heard a strange noise coming from one of the boxes. I looked up and saw a young squirrel peering out.
'I grabbed my camera and was able to capture a few pictures with its mouth open. I believe the young squirrel was calling for its mother.'
The cheeky squirrel shows no signs of moving and continues to live rent-free in the property - let's just hope he's not making a mess in there...
