How we made friends with a squirrel and met the infamous “squirrel whisperer”

Before we ever set foot in the Clifford E. Lee Nature Sanctuary, a strange prophecy appeared in the comments of a Reddit thread I had started. I was simply asking for birding advice, and trying to see what kind of things I may see and experience during my visit. A local user dropped a fascinating tip: "There are also squirrels at Clifford E. Lee that will eat nuts out of your hands. A guy was feeding them macadamia nuts last week and calling them by name…"

At the time, it sounded like a lovely urban legend. But nature has a funny way of delivering exactly what you need right on schedule.

We have been quite regular visitors at the sanctuary by now. We have yet to cross paths with the infamous “squirrel man”, nor have we been able to hand-feed any of the bushy-tailed nut gobblers. At this point, we would come with bird seeds for our little feathered friends, and also bring some peanuts to leave for the squirrels. There was that inkling of hope that we would meet some squirrels just as brave as the Chickadees. (If you want to Learn more about our forst trip here and see us interact with the Chickadees you can view my other post, that is currently pinned, you will see a picture of a chickadee in my hand.) ,We also brought mixed bird seeds for the ducks, who would be there during the spring and summer days in the marshes and ponds along the boardwalk. We were making friends throughout the park. The squirrels may have noticed our kindness, but neither of them showed that trust quite yet.

In the above reel it was hard to get a real clear video. The little guy was so quick.

In this above reel a squirrel was getting closer, but still unsure if we were friendly.

Enjoy a couple photos below. Unfortunately not the vest quality 😕. Them little guys are so quick, amd some appear more camera shy.

Beau’s Solo Breakthrough

The magic began to materialize on a day when my Beau and his mom visited the sanctuary without me. While his mom was busy enchanting the local chickadees, Beau noticed a pair of dark, curious eyes watching from the brush near the start of the boardwalk.

Deciding to test his luck, he lightly tossed a few peanuts toward the brave little rodent. Slowly, the squirrel meandered closer. Beau sat completely still on the wooden planks, lowered his hand, and began making inviting, clicking, and smooching noises to show he meant no harm.

Voila! The little critter hopped right up and took a peanut straight from his fingers. When my Beau got home that afternoon, he was practically bursting with excitement to show me the video. Naturally, I wanted in on the action.

The Man, the Myth, the Fanny Pack

On our very next joint trip to our little piece of paradise, we finally spotted him: the legend from the Reddit comments. At the time, we didn’t know, nor did those tales of this squirrel whisperer on that Reddit post cross our minds. He was a gentle-looking older man, quietly sharing a moment with a squirrel right at the entrance of the boardwalk. Fastened around his waist was a fanny pack, which we later found out was carefully packed with peanuts and chestnuts. He used the peanuts to distract the aggressive local Blue Jays, saving the prime treats for his furry friends.

We didn't want to interrupt their bonding time, so we waited until he meandered down the trail before taking our turn at the same spot.

For a while, it was a beautiful, repetitive rhythm. We took turns holding out unsalted peanuts. The squirrel would dash up, snatch the prize, sprint off to bury it in his secret vault, and come right back. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Lessons in Squirrel Etiquette

Just as we were enjoying the routine, the fanny-pack-wearing legend walked back up the boardwalk and struck up a sweet conversation with us. He officially introduced our new friend as Ollie.

He explained that he comes to the park regularly to do his "rounds," visiting a whole neighborhood of squirrel friends that he has personally named. But the real golden nugget of information he gave us was about their diet. While peanuts are fine for an immediate snack, he explained that they can easily harbor toxic mold if they get wet in Alberta's damp rain or snow.

Because winter is a brutal time for wildlife to find food, he taught us that chestnuts are the ultimate currency. They store beautifully without spoiling, giving the squirrels a safe, mold-free stockpile for the freezing months ahead. The squirrels also appear to really love the nut that many may roast over an open fire. At least as sung by the classic yuletide tune.

The Ultimate Test: "Ollie!"

Ollie instantly held a special place in my heart because he was the first squirrel to ever trust me enough to eat from my hand. But the true test of our friendship came on a later visit.

We weren’t even on the boardwalk yet—just standing by the little picnic area near the front entrance. Hoping against hope, I pitched my voice into the bushes and called out his name: "Ollie!"

Right on cue, the brush rustled. Out sprinted that brilliant, bushy-tailed little dude, heading straight toward us. It turns out squirrels are incredibly smart; while they might not know English, they absolutely recognize the distinct pitch of a familiar voice, associating it with a jackpot snack.

Losing regular access to the sanctuary recently has been tough, and thinking about animal welfare always brings a little ache to my heart. But remembering Ollie sprinting out of the bushes reminds me of the magic that happens when humans and wildlife share a little mutual respect.

Next time you visit the sanctuary, leave the peanuts at home (or to keep the Bluejays away from stealing the squirrels' treats), a few chestnuts, and keep an eye out for the man with the fanny pack. Tell Ollie the squirrel I say hello.