It started as just a perfect photo opportunity. Brian Genest, 17, was a walking through John Chestnut Park in Palm Harbor, Fla., when he spotted what looked like a friendly squirrel on one of the hand rails. So Genest walked up to it.Click here for photos"When I got close enough, the squirrel actually tried grabbing my phone, I shook it off, and then snapped the first photo," Genest said.Genest wanted to take a selfie with the little furry creature, but once the first flash went off, the squirrel went wild."Next thing I knew, the squirrel was on my shoulder, then under my shirt, and then hanging off my back," he said.Genest's mother was standing by with the camera and continued to snap away as the squirrel climbed up her son's back."I look up and I see her with her camera taking pictures of me, and I just immediately I start laughing because I knew she got at least one of them to prove the story actually happened," Genest said.Genest was able to free himself from the squirrel and said he wasn't injured, that it was "all fun and games."After his soon-to-be borther-in-law put the picture online, everyone wanted to chat with the squirrel selfie superstar.Genest said he doesn't mind his new-found fame.He also has a new nickname at school: "squirrel boy."

It started as just a perfect photo opportunity. Brian Genest, 17, was a walking through John Chestnut Park in Palm Harbor, Fla., when he spotted what looked like a friendly squirrel on one of the hand rails. So Genest walked up to it.

Click here for photos

Advertisement Related Content Photos: Squirrel selfie goes wrong

"When I got close enough, the squirrel actually tried grabbing my phone, I shook it off, and then snapped the first photo," Genest said.

Genest wanted to take a selfie with the little furry creature, but once the first flash went off, the squirrel went wild.

"Next thing I knew, the squirrel was on my shoulder, then under my shirt, and then hanging off my back," he said.

Genest's mother was standing by with the camera and continued to snap away as the squirrel climbed up her son's back.

"I look up and I see her with her camera taking pictures of me, and I just immediately I start laughing because I knew she got at least one of them to prove the story actually happened," Genest said.

Genest was able to free himself from the squirrel and said he wasn't injured, that it was "all fun and games."

After his soon-to-be borther-in-law put the picture online, everyone wanted to chat with the squirrel selfie superstar.

Genest said he doesn't mind his new-found fame.

He also has a new nickname at school: "squirrel boy."