Saturday, May 5, 2012

Camera Critters #213

It’s not often I can say I have photographed a new mammal, but today I can.

While riding along the dirt trails of the Dry Canyon in Redmond, Oregon, I noticed something in the distance.  For some reason I was thinking rabbit, until I got a little closer.  My thought then went to rock chuck, which after looking at the critter through my camera lens, I realized it wasn’t that either.

So I snapped off a few shots, moved a little closer, snapped off a few more and moved in a little closer…oops…too close.  The critter disappeared into a hole.

California Ground Squirrel

California Ground Squirrel

When I got home and began looking at the creature, I realized it was something I hadn’t photographed before.  There are a number of mammals I haven’t photographed, so it’s not like I’ve shot so many I’m hitting the bottom of the barrel, but I rarely see new mammals in town.

But this California Ground Squirrel was definitely a new creature.  Not only that, but they are mostly known in the western part of the state, on the other side of Cascade Mountains.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Nice capture!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Pat said...

I like the spots in his coat!

Kay L. Davies said...

Here in eastern Alberta we have a similar little critter called a Richardson's Ground Squirrel. People around here call them gophers.
There's another kind in the Rockies called a Columbian Ground Squirrel.
K

Misty DawnS said...

Why am I not surprised that it was a squirrel of some sort, which is exactly what YOUR Squirrel told you when she first saw the pic... just sayin :-)

Roan said...

I never see different mammals. It's nice to be able to find something new and different to photograph.

Jessica Cassidy said...

great shot of the squirrel, you are too funny and cute :-) Dropping by from Camera Critters