Couple Confirms Squirrel Photo Is The Real Deal

Jackson and Melissa Brandt talk about their squirrel photo on 'Today,' August 17, 2009 NBCAccess Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- A Canadian squirrel found itself the subject of e-mails and blog posts across the world after it popped up into a couple's vacation photo.

Although the photo - featuring an in-focus rodent and a slightly blurred American couple - left some questioning its authenticity, the couple involved told Matt Lauer on Monday's NBC's the "Today" show, the photo is real.

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Click HERE to see the photo.

"It's 100 percent undoctored," Melissa Brandts -- who is pictured in the photo with her husband, Jackson -- told Matt.

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The photo was taken in Canada's Banff National Park, while the couple was hiking back in May. The two set up a tripod and timer on the shore of Lake Minnewanka, where a squirrel was running around. The creature just happened to pop up as the camera snapped, Melissa said.

"As we started taking the pictures, he ducked down into the rocks," Melissa said. "And then he heard the shutter release and became interested; thought perhaps it was going to give him some food."

The photo of the Brandts first started collecting attention on August 4, after the couple, both 29, sent the picture to National Geographic for the mag's "Your Shot" photo contest.

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It has continued to be a source of fun for the couple.

"It was just really a real fun moment for us. We brought it back and our friends and family just all could not believe it," Melissa said.

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