Least Chipmunk

Common name: Least Chipmunk
Scientific name: Tamias minimus
Often mistaken for: All other chipmunk species; Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Size: 6.6-9 in (17-23 cm); 1-1.75 oz (28-50 g)
Habitat: brushlands, rocky areas, forests
Range: Yukon to Quebec, California, and New Mexico
Photo courtesy: Phil Armitage

American Red Squirrel

Common name: American Red Squirrel
Scientific name: Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Often mistaken for: Douglas Squirrels, Gray Squirrels, Fox Squirrels, European Red Squirrels
Size: 11-15 in (28-38 cm); 5-8.8 oz (140-250 g)
Habitat: most forests, city parks, valleys
Range: Alaska to New Mexico; Vancouver island to Maine and the Appalachians
Photo courtesy: Franco Folini

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

Common name: Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Scientific name: Spermophilus lateralis
Often mistaken for: Chipmunks, gophers
Size: 9-12 in (23-30 cm); 6-9.75 oz (170-280g)
Habitat: mixed and coniferous forests, rocky slopes, open shrubland
Range: southeastern British Columbia to Arizona & New Mexico; northern California to central Colorado
Photo courtesy: Robert Harrington

Planned Backpacking Trip

In a few weeks, if all goes well, I'm going on a backpacking trip with the Sierra Club. The trip is to the Sangre de Cristo mountains in south central Colorado. There are at least 10 species of squirrels in that area, so I am really looking forward to it. The trip is not just for wildlife observation, but also to test my skills in rough terrain in the rugged outdoors. Soon I will be posting information about the 10 species of squirrel found in those mountains, one at a time and at random.

Exxpose Exxon Protest

Yesterday morning I've attended a protest outside a building where Exxon shareholders meet once a year. Over 30 others were there. It was to spread environmental awareness in hopes that Exxon would change their policies and become more environmentally friendly. Environmental awareness helps squirrels and other wildlife, at least indirectly.

Click Here to see a video of the protest. I can be seen for a brief second in the background in timestamp 1:09.

Mother Squirrels

Mother's day was a just few days ago, and it made me think of how special and important mothers are. Unfortunately, many people forget about mothers in the animal kingdom. Once or twice a year, depending on the species, squirrels have babies seasonally. It is always a joy to see new life seeing the world for the first time, whether a human baby, a baby squirrel, or other baby animal. Squirrels can be excellent mothers.

Call me a Bambi-ist, but I believe that one of the worst tragedies in nature is when a mother animal is killed, leaving her babies helpless, hopeless orphans. Sadly, some states and counties (namely several Texas counties) have no seasonal limits on squirrel hunting. This opens the doors to irresponsible and reckless hunting. Hopefully there are enough wildlife rehabilitators to rescue orphaned baby squirrels whose mothers have been slaughtered by heartless rednecks. I have created an online petition to stop this year-round hunting, but unfortunately people on BOTH sides of the issue took it out of context, and I have no way of editing it. My intention is not to ban hunting altogether, but to protect mother animals during their nursing season.

Texas Squirrels

There are 10 species of squirrel in Texas. Only 3, however, are found in the DFW area: fox squirrel, Southern flying squirrel, and Thirteen-lined ground squirrel. Only the first of these is commonly seen. The gray squirrel is found further east, because they like pines. There are hardly any pines in the DFW area, and fox squirrels are more tolerant of pine-free areas than gray squirrels. Last weekend I took a trip to a Christian camp aptly called Pine Cove near Tyler, TX, and saw a couple gray squirrels. Though this encounter may seem rather unfascinating to many, it was exciting for me because I haven't seen a gray squirrel in over 3 years.