Young Uinta Ground Squirrel in the Wasatch Mountains – Nikon D500, f10, 1/1250, ISO 500, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
May… the month where baby Uinta Ground Squirrels seem to show up everywhere within their favorite habitats which include shrubsteppe habitat, mountain meadows and pastures with elevations of between 4,000 and 8,010 feet in areas of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah.
The adult females will stay with their young for a only few months and then she will go underground to hibernate and estivate leaving her young to fend for themselves for a few weeks longer. The young will need to fatten themselves up before they head underground too. Uinta Ground Squirrels hibernate for about 9 months of the year.
Since they are only above ground for such a short period I try to take as many photos of these “Potguts” as often as I can. I adore them.
I took this photo of a baby Uinta Ground Squirrel three days ago in the Wasatch Mountains.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Uinta Ground Squirrel photos plus facts and information about this species.
Wonderful detail and textures. I can practically count every hair on the squirrel. Thanks Mia.
So cute! Didn’t realize they spent that much time hibernating. Thanks for the info on that, Mia. 🙂
Hibernate for nine months of the year? My partner is obviously a wanna-be Ulinta Squirrel. Not nearly as cute though.
Raises the question: How cute can you get??? Like the one you posted today and all the others, too.
Nice
Sure is a cute little fella! Very surprising life style for these guys…hibernate for nine months…what a life! Doesn’t it make you wonder sometimes of their life’s ‘purpose’? What do you do for only three months of activity…