Backpacking in the Pecos Wilderness

I just got back from a backpacking trip in the Pecos Wilderness in northern New Mexico. I saw my very first marmot, which was most likely a yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris). I also saw some golden-mantled ground squirrels, red squirrels, and Least and Colorado chipmunks.

Pictured below are a golden-mantled ground squirrel and a least chipmunk, two of the most common mammals in the Pecos Wilderness.

Plantain Squirrel

Ebay Squirrel Stuff for Sale

Financial woes are causing me to sell my squirrel collection. Please visit My ebay store. Part of the proceeds go to the squirrel charity mentioned in the previous entry. So far, I have 10 items, but more will be added when I have time.

Lovely Lita's Sheltering Tree Foundation

You might not believe this, but there are squirrel charities out there. One such charity is the Lovely Lita's Sheltering Tree Foundation, located in the Tampa Bay area in Florida. They help raise and rehabilitate baby and injured gray squirrels. Kudos to this rescue group. The link to their website is: Squirrellady.org. You can buy from their store or make a donation, as I have. The image of the late Lita the squirrel is from their website.

Obnoxious Squirrel Haters

Last year some obnoxious anti-squirrel fanatic in response to one of my old squirrel websites was ranting about how squirrels apparently cause millions of dollars of damage to pecan trees and he has to shoot them. When I responded to ask where he gets this information, he responds back calling me names and insulting my intelligence. Still no references to the figures of millions of dollars lost.

Now, even if squirrels "damaged" pecan crops, it wouldn't really matter because squirrels and pecan trees have been part of the ecosystem in the US long before man has arrived.

I also tried to tell him about Native Americans and how they make good examples of stewards of the land, particularly the Sioux Indians, since I've read books by a Sioux in regards to environmental stewardship. You know what this moron says in response? Something shockingly idiotic: "The Sioux never seen a pecan tree." Wow. What ignorance some white trash have. Did you know the word "pecan" has Native American origins? Yes, Algonquian to be exact. The Sioux are another tribe, but they have certainly been around pecan trees FAR LONGER than this inbred white trash's ancestors.

As typical of many ultra-conservative tea-baggers, he assumed I was liberal simply because I love animals. Ironically, he was using liberal language in an attempt to describe how liberal he thinks I am.

For some reason, this issue is still bothering me so I thought I'd vent. I have the guy's email address (won't publish it here), but if anyone wants to tell him how ignorant he is, I'd be glad to share it individually.

Russian Scientists Grow Pleistocene-Era Plants From Seeds Buried By Squirrels 30,000 Years Ago

See link:

http://www.popsci.com.au/science/russian-scientists-grow-pleistocene-era-plants-from-seeds-buried-by-squirrels-30-000-years-ago

Eastern Gray Squirrel