By Robert Rodriguez
The Fresno Bee
CLOVIS, Calif. — As a Clovis police officer, John McGrory is ready to take down a bad guy at a moment’s notice. But even a no-nonsense cop like McGrory can’t pass up a moment of cuteness.
That’s what happened in a video posted by the Clovis Police Department on Sunday, which was national Squirrel Appreciation Day (yes, that’s really a thing).
The video shows McGrory standing next to a tree when a squirrel scampers over to him and gently takes a nut from his hand. McGrory smiles and laughs as the furry rodent scoots back to the tree. The video has 17,000 views on the police department’s Facebook page.
Laura Lowdermilk of Clovis posted a one-word response: “Awwww.”
https://www.facebook.com/ClovisPoliceDepartmentCalifornia/videos/1626213744088968/
Veronica Rain recognized that the video was shot in her neighborhood. “Yes, that is exactly how (the) squirrels on my street are. That is my block, an they really will let you come up to them like that, lol lol.”
Clovis police spokesman Ty Wood said the video was taken in 2016 when McGrory, who is now a detective, was on a call in the neighborhood when one of the residents mentioned the area’s friendly squirrels. They offered him a few nuts to give the squirrels and he fed them.
A few of the department’s Facebook followers reminded people that feeding squirrels is generally not a good idea. And Wood agrees.
“While we don’t recommend feeding squirrels, this one was too cute to pass up,” Wood said.
©2018 The Fresno Bee (Fresno, Calif.)