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June 2, 2007
Where There Was Once A Few...
...There are now many. I'm speaking of the Uinta Ground Squirrel, one of Yellowstone's most prolific creatures. My neighborhood is already one of their habitats. Now that it is spring, these little buggers have exponentially increased their population.
I like them, though this blog entry might lead you to believe otherwise. Back then, I was just a little angry while in the throes of sleep deprivation. I actually find them to be quite endearing. They are tiny and cute, and they make even tinier, cuter little babies.
This year, I'm taking the time to figure out what this ground squirrel community is all about. My front yard currently appears to be the territory for 1 family of ground squirrels. There's another family just across the street, and another one that shares the boundary between mine and my neighbor's yards. I think that the family of squirrels in my yard consists of 1 adult female and her 6 (Count 'em, 6!) munchkin babies. I don't really know where the male creator of the munchkins is; I don't see him around. The 2 squirrel families in close proximity to my house are also seemingly composed of 1 adult female and her respective babies. Somewhere out there, it seems, there's a big ground squirrel bachelor party happening, since they seem to be absent from the neighborhood.
The buggers live in what must be an amazing network of tunnels and cavities underground. This year, there are 4 holes that serve as entrances for the squirrels' underground palace. Notably, according to the blog entry that I linked to above, there were 14 holes in my yard last year. So, it seems, my yard should be a quieter ground squirrel center this year. Really, though, I can't tell much of a difference. Of the 4 present holes, there is 1 main hole and 3 auxillary, or lesser-used, holes.
When I wake up after my night shift, I sit at my kitchen table to drink coffee and eat "breakfast." From there, I have a perfect view of the ground squirrel goings-on in my yard. Theirs is certainly a singular lifestyle when they are above ground. They scamper around and eat. The mother, I guess, has two jobs: she eats and she watches for predators. I find the scene to be absolutely fascinating.
As the babies graze, the mother stands upon her haunches, watching for anything that could mean trouble, such as coyotes, ravens, birds of prey, children on bicycles, passing vehicles, and a border collie named June. Occasionally, the mother lets down her guard, drops to the ground, and partakes in the bountiful buffet that is the front yard. When something seemingly dangerous passes too close for comfort, the mother lets out a shrill alarm call, what I describe as the "Weeeeeeet!" in the linked blog entry above. At the sound of this call, the babies scurry back to the closest of the 4 holes and disappear underground. After a time, the mother peaks her head above ground, and if the world is found to be safe, everyone returns to normal business. Even further, alarm calls made by any other surrounding ground squirrel family ilicits the same response.
What's most fascinating (and humorous) about the whole scenario is that it happens all the time. This process is repeated over and over, ad nauseum. In fact, it seems that the whole crew is in a perpetual state of cautiously grazing on good grass and scurrying panicked back to their burrow. I can't imagine how much energy these creatures expend running back and forth all day!
I've been watching my squirrel family since they emerged from underground. I'm happy to report that, as of this morning, all 6 babies were still happily running around in the yard. However, I've also seen a certain coyote passing through my neighborhood with increased frequency. We'll see how the soap opera pans out.
Posted by Meghan at June 2, 2007 8:23 PM
Comments
Pretty funny. Do they drive June nuts? Our dog can't stand to see a squirrel pass by - she's certain she's meant to get it. She got one once - we found it on the back patio. She didn't eat it, but instead licked it till it was all wet.
Posted by: backofpack at June 3, 2007 12:23 AM
No males around? What they need are old-fashioned family values! Too many illegitimate squirrels runing around! That's what's wrong with their culture! No wonder they live underground!
But seriously, even though they eat grass, it seems to me that they might be very good for lawns. They aerate and fertilize. As long as the mounds are spread out and not left to stand, there won't be any bald spots where the dirt pile blocks the sun.
(I used to work on a golf course when I was in college.)
I wonder if their culture is similar to tree squirrels? Tree squirrels range anywhere from freindly/curious to mean/vicious. I've had to kill a couple of psychopathic squirrles. They would attack! It wasn't rabies - this was their long-term normal personalities.
Oddly, I haven't seen a mean squirrel in several years.
They're very territorial, as most rodents are. I've watched tree squirrels attack birds and dismantle nests, throwing the eggs on the ground while the mother freaks out barely out of range.
Posted by: JeffO at June 5, 2007 9:45 AM