Hugging Squirrels Wins Forest Preserve Photo Contest

(The following information comes from a press release issued Wednesday by Cindy Cain at the Will County Forest Preserve District.)

A photo of hugging squirrels taken by a woman in Channahon received the most love online to win the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s 2018 Preserve the Moment photo contest.

The picture of a mother squirrel embracing her kit was snapped in September by Channahon resident Barbara Parisi at McKinley Woods – Kerry Sheridan Grove.

Photo contest fans went nuts over the photo and the fuzzy duo had the highest vote total on the Forest Preserve’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/WillCoForests with more “likes” and comments than any of the other seven monthly finalists' photos. Almost 1,500 votes were cast to select the top three photos.

When judges selected her as a monthly winner in September, Parisi, an avid birder and amateur photographer, said she had been in the preserve only a minute when she saw the mother squirrel interacting with her babies. She missed the first embrace, but was able to capture a second hug. After she was notified of her overall win based on Facebook votes, Parisi said she was happy so many people liked the photo.

"I hope it made more people appreciative of the small sentient animals that live around us," she said. " ... I also hope it will bring some light on how important conservation is and how fragile the balance between man and nature has become."

Parisi receives a $500 gift card for her first-place win.

Image taken by Channahon resident Barbara Parisi courtesy of Will County Forest Preserve District