Camera Critters #292

A couple of years ago, I added the California Ground Squirrel to my list of mammals seen and photographed.  Since then I have seen the squirrel in a variety of places, and as I attempted to once again photograph the critter, it always dove into a nearby hole before I could press the shutter.

Until Friday.  8v)

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

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

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.