Cousin Observes Rare Western Squirrel

In a recent visit to Flagstaff, AZ nestled at 7,000 feet at the base of an extinct volcano, cousin Greg Fieg came across the rare, endangered (and pretty damn cute) Tassel-eared Squirrel (Sciurus aberti).

This squirrel, a relative of the North American Gray Squirrel which can be found in many a backyard, looks like a climbing rabbit with long tufted ears, a comparatively fatter body and huge fluffy tail.

Greg introduced himself to a family group of more than a half dozen of these squirrels who were bold enough to come within a few feet to accept his handout of fancy nuts.

Speaking of nuts, this is not the only unusual sighting Greg has had in Flagstaff, which is located not far south of the Grand Canyon. In 2007 he stopped by the Little America Hotel and whom should he see there but Peter O'Toole, Vanessa Redgrave, Liam Neeson and his late wife Natasha Richardson, who has since perished in a freak skiing accident, and her sister Jolie Richardson.

Greg was so impressed with the women's arresting, world-class beauty that he told Jolie, someone he did not recognize at the moment, "You should be in the movies." Jolie turned to Greg with a frank stare and replied, "I am in the movies."