ROLLING up snow in its tiny paws, this little squirrel is looking for a snowball fight. Wildlife photographer Simon Phillpotts spotted the adorable squirrel in the woods by his house in the Yorkshire Dales. The 41-year-old, of Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, says: “Red squirrels are often very inquisitive and while they can’t roll a snowball, this one looks like he might have managed it and could be about to lob it at someone. ‘This was one of the cheekiest and most curious squirrels in my woodland, and as soon as he saw the snowball he ran over to it to take a closer look.
A hungry hippo is seconds away from catching a bird in its gigantic jaws .
PERCHING on top of a gate, this young barn swallow waits patiently for his mum to return with dinner .
ROLLING around in the snow, these young brown bears take a break from their play fight to share a tender hug with one another .
SITTING quietly at the edge of the lake, these two baby bears watch and learn as the adults hunt for fish .
A panic stricken kitten that got her head stuck in a car tyre has been freed by quick thinking RSPCA staff .
A grey whale and her calf greet an audience of awestruck admirers on the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico .
AT first glance these images could easily be mistaken for photographs, but they are in-fact real life drawings created using nothing but coloured pencils .
MAKING himself at home, this little snail perches happily on top of this frog's head .
WITH STUNNING colours and serene scenes, these photographs capture the otherworldly beauty of the English coast .
WITH the phosphorescent blobs and mesmerising patterns, these spectacular images may look like the hall marks of an enchanted forest but it is in fact the scene of thousands of dancing FIREFLIES .
This brave Hyena finally catches his pray among the thousands of flamingos, Lake Nakuru, Kenya - OUTNUMBERED among thousands of flamingos, this bold hyena is not put off from hunting for a morning snack .
A group of shelter dogs showcase their loveable personalities in a series of passport-style photographs - in the hope of finding their forever homes .