A man has built a mini picnic table for squirrels to eat their food in his yard, and the heartwarming images have inspired others to take on similar projects while stuck at home amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Rick Kalinowski, 43, from Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, became an online star after photos of a squirrel happily dining at the picnic table went viral. The rodent-sized table is attached to his fence and has two benches so multiple squirrels can hang out at once.
'I built the picnic bench and mounted it outside my living room window on the fence so I can watch the squirrels eat while I have my coffee every morning,' the self-employed plumber said.
Not only has Rick provided the squirrels with their very own picnic table, but he also supplies them with food.
'I buy a variety of nuts and seeds for the squirrels along with fresh-cut fruit; it brings me happiness especially during these uncertain times,' he said. 'The morning I made the video, the squirrels just looked so happy and cute eating.
'I think a lot of people love squirrels and the picnic table is cute for a photo opportunity,' he added. 'I get about four to six squirrels that regularly visit me and I'm always taking pictures of them.'
And now…thanks to quarantine…people are making picnic tables for squirrels all over the country.
Lucy Small posted one of Rick's images, writing: 'Two weeks of isolation and we're out here making picnic tables for squirrels because we're insane.
Here's a video of the OG picnic table in action: