This friendly red squirrel in the Ripley Garden was brave enough to actually perch on my knee. For this, he was rewarded with peanuts.

(Be extremely careful when entertaining squirrels like this. A squirrel’s teeth and claws can be sharp, and can easily wound if he is eager — even if he is friendly. Also remember that these are still urban rodents, who have been rooting around in tourist garbage. You can be certain I hand-sanitized thoroughly after this very photogenic encounter.)