On guard

These little Columbian Ground Squirrels are seen only in the mountains, not in the city. Photographed this one when friends, Cathy and Terry, and I, had a quick stop on 15 May 2014. Saw quite a few of them during our two-day trip through the Rocky Mountains, west of Calgary.

I always think of these animals eating grass and plants, so I found the following information interesting.

"Diet includes a wide variety of vegetation: roots, bulbs, stems, leaves, seeds, and berries. Also eats some animal food (e.g., insects, mice, dead fish). May climb into trees and shrubs to obtain buds and fruits. Spends about 70% of year in hibernation."

www.iucnredlist.org/details/42466/0