We have had a new guest in the back yard since June 28th (date on 1st picture). She is a 'Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel'. We thought she was a chipmunk until I checked google. Chipmunks have the side stripes going from their eyes all the way down their side and back, and golden-mantled squirrel's are larger and only have stripes on their back or sides.
See her tummy laying on the rock?
She was fatter when we first saw her so we figure she was going to have a litter. She would go and collect straw and other things to take to her burrow for a nest. We saw her through July 6th and then she was gone. We thought she must have moved to another yard, or was picked up by a hawk. But then, she showed up again on August 9th ... a lot trimmer. We have watched her the past week or so, coming up to the bird feeder in the tree out the window. Filling her cheeks with seed and then running to the back of the yard and disappearing under the pile of old yard trimmings and pine needles. She actually jumped from a rock at the edge of the patio up 2 feet to the platform we have set up for bird seed. I hope the babies come out soon so we can enjoy their visits.
Click on the pics to see how fat her cheeks are!
2 comments:
Hahaha awww that's too cute! That reminds me..I need to look up bees out here. We have these HUGE round bellied bumble bees that live in our fence. The chubbiest bees I've ever seen, that's for sure!
That is so cute! I hope you get a pic of the babies too!
Post a Comment