Columbian Ground Squirrel

Camera Critters

Who Me?
You Talking to Me!

Columbian Ground Squirrel
(Spermophilus columbianus)
Click on the Photo for an Up Close and Personal Meeting

Look at My Fine Profile,
See My Steely Gaze.
Notice My ‘Ready to Pounce’ Stance,
And My Long Razor-Sharp Claws.
Don’t Mess With Me.

Photographed at Two Medicine Lakes in Glacier National Park.

The Columbian Ground Squirrel is common in the interior of the Northwest, in mountain meadows, prairies, and farmland. Sometimes it becomes a pest in agricultural fields. Normally very social, except when giving the Clint Eastwood 'tough guy' pose and 'Robert De Niro' quote. Males defend their individual territory within a colony setting. It has different alarm calls when it spots aerial predators, than for those on the ground. They may store food in the burrow during the summer for use when emerging in the spring from hibernation. They are large, dark gray above, quite reddish below and on the face, forelegs, and near the tail. Martha and I thought they were quite beautiful.

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Troy and Martha

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in the Mojave and Death Valley

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by Martha

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at Midnight in Coldfoot
in the land of the Midnight Sun

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