Teenager Brian Genest's attempt to take a selfie with a squirrel did not quite go to plan.

The 17-year-old from Auburn, Maine,said he saw what appeared to be a friendly squirrel on a hand rail while walking through a park near Tampa, Florida.

Brian took a selfie of himself and the squirrel. But the flash and noises from his camera phone scared the squirrel, which climbed under his shirt and hung onto his back before scampering back out.

"He was just in that spot where my arm can't reach him," he said. "I threw myself on the ground, and that scared him off."

His mother, Paula Wright, snapped photos of the scene, originally posted to his Instagram feed along with his selfie.

Brian had approached the squirrel making clicking sounds with his tongue to get closer.

His mother said the incident last Saturday taught him a lesson, but neither her son nor the squirrel was harmed.