{"id":44963,"date":"2017-02-14T06:09:50","date_gmt":"2017-02-14T13:09:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=44963"},"modified":"2023-04-11T04:10:55","modified_gmt":"2023-04-11T10:10:55","slug":"mercur-canyon-rock-squirrel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/02\/14\/mercur-canyon-rock-squirrel\/","title":{"rendered":"Mercur Canyon Rock Squirrel"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"RockRock Squirrel on rocks in Mercur Canyon – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1600, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I didn’t have much luck at all with birds yesterday in the west desert canyons but I did spot and photograph a Rock Squirrel in Mercur Canyon. The squirrel is small in the frame but I love how much of the squirrel’s habitat shows in this photo.<\/p>\n

Rock Squirrels are large ground squirrels that have speckled grayish brown coats, long brushy tails with white edges, pointed ears that rise above their heads and dark eyes with white rings around them. They can be 21 inches in length. They are active during the winter unlike many other ground squirrels though they may hibernate briefly in the coldest weather in the northern part of their range. They do estivate during the hottest times of the year. Rock Squirrels are nearly always found in rocky locales such as canyon walls, talus slopes, cliffs, boulder piles and hills. They are found in these areas where there are oaks, pinyon pines and juniper growth.<\/p>\n

Mercur Canyon is a six mile Canyon on the west side of the Oquirrh Mountains and early on there were gold and silver mines there and the canyon was then called Lewiston Canyon but those mines failed for various reasons including the difficulty of extracting the gold from the ore.<\/p>\n

In the late 1800’s Arie Pinedo, of German descent, obtained the property to mine for mercury, merkur is the German word for mercury and the canyon was named Mercur at that time and that name has remained until present day. Today cyanide is processed at a mine up the canyon past the locked gates.<\/p>\n

Mercur Canyon is beautiful. There are pinyon pines, junipers and smaller shrubs like sagebrush on the canyon walls. I have seen Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and smaller birds like Black-billed Magpies, Northern Flickers, Mountain Bluebirds, Juniper Titmice and more while in the canyon. It is not a super birdy place but I do love going there.<\/p>\n

This photo shows the Rock Squirrel on a rocky ledge and a plant at the lower right edge of the frame, that plant is an Ephedra<\/span><\/a>, also known as Mormon Tea because the plant was used as a substitute for black tea and also for medicinal purposes.<\/p>\n

I don’t yet know where I am going today but I hope I find a few more birds than I did yesterday.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a><\/span> to see more of my Rock Squirrel photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I didn’t have much luck at all with birds yesterday in the west desert canyons but I did spot and photograph a Rock Squirrel in Mercur Canyon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":112375,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2998,5661,358,26,1314],"tags":[3940,5665,5071,5666,5528,5662,5663,4470,3827,5667],"class_list":["post-44963","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mercur-canyon","category-rock-squirrels","category-tooele-county","category-utah","category-west-desert-utah","tag-canyon","tag-ephedra","tag-ground-squirrels","tag-mormon-tea","tag-oquirrh-mountains","tag-otospermophilus-variegatus","tag-rock-squirrel","tag-rocks","tag-squirrels","tag-west-desert-canyons"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rock-squirrel-on-rocks-mia-mcpherson-5629.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-bHd","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":45415,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/03\/08\/revisiting-the-mercur-canyon-rock-squirrel\/","url_meta":{"origin":44963,"position":0},"title":"Revisiting The Mercur Canyon Rock Squirrel","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 8, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"While up in Mercur Canyon I caught a flash of browns and grays on top of a rock and realized I was seeing the Rock Squirrel I photographed on the same slope last month.","rel":"","context":"In "Mercur Canyon"","block_context":{"text":"Mercur Canyon","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/mercur-canyon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Rock Squirrel on lichen covered rocks, Mercur Canyon, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rock-squirrel-mia-mcpherson-1880.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rock-squirrel-mia-mcpherson-1880.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rock-squirrel-mia-mcpherson-1880.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rock-squirrel-mia-mcpherson-1880.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":99148,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/01\/21\/squirrel-appreciation-day-2022\/","url_meta":{"origin":44963,"position":1},"title":"Squirrel Appreciation Day 2022","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 21, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"January 21st is Squirrel Appreciation Day around the globe. There are many reasons to appreciate these furry, four legged, cute creatures.\u00a0","rel":"","context":"In "Box Elder County"","block_context":{"text":"Box Elder County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/box-elder-county-utah\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Baby Uinta Ground Squirrel calling from a rock, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/uinta-ground-squirrel-baby-calling-mia-mcpherson-4066.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/uinta-ground-squirrel-baby-calling-mia-mcpherson-4066.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/uinta-ground-squirrel-baby-calling-mia-mcpherson-4066.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/uinta-ground-squirrel-baby-calling-mia-mcpherson-4066.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57695,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/05\/08\/photographing-uinta-ground-squirrels-in-a-wasatch-mountain-canyon\/","url_meta":{"origin":44963,"position":2},"title":"Photographing Uinta Ground Squirrels In A Wasatch Mountain Canyon","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 8, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Two days ago while up in a canyon in the Wasatch Mountains I was able to finally realize a personal goal while photographing Uinta Ground Squirrels.","rel":"","context":"In "Summit County"","block_context":{"text":"Summit County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/summit-county-utah\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult Uinta Ground Squirrel munching on spring grasses, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/uinta-ground-squirrel-grass-mia-mcpherson-2619.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/uinta-ground-squirrel-grass-mia-mcpherson-2619.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/uinta-ground-squirrel-grass-mia-mcpherson-2619.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/uinta-ground-squirrel-grass-mia-mcpherson-2619.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":74179,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/09\/28\/rock-squirrel-close-up-in-a-fragrant-sumac-shrub\/","url_meta":{"origin":44963,"position":3},"title":"Rock Squirrel Close Up In A Fragrant Sumac Shrub","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 28, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The Rock Squirrel was grasping a sumac branch and the shrub was so close to me I wasn't even sure I was going to be able to focus on it.","rel":"","context":"In "Rock Squirrels"","block_context":{"text":"Rock Squirrels","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/wildlife\/rock-squirrels\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Rock Squirrel in a Fragrant Sumac, Stansbury Mountains, West Desert, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rock-squirrel-sumac-mia-mcpherson-1428.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rock-squirrel-sumac-mia-mcpherson-1428.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rock-squirrel-sumac-mia-mcpherson-1428.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rock-squirrel-sumac-mia-mcpherson-1428.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61299,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/11\/09\/west-desert-rock-squirrel-on-top-of-a-juniper\/","url_meta":{"origin":44963,"position":4},"title":"West Desert Rock Squirrel On Top Of A Juniper","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 9, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A soft blue sky, a juniper and a Rock Squirrel made me pretty happy two days ago because I don't have these squirrels in my viewfinder nearly as often as I'd like to.","rel":"","context":"In "Rock Squirrels"","block_context":{"text":"Rock Squirrels","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/wildlife\/rock-squirrels\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Rock Squirrel at the top of a Juniper tree, Stansbury Mountains, West Desert, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rock-squirrel-juniper-sky-mia-mcpherson-9697.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rock-squirrel-juniper-sky-mia-mcpherson-9697.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rock-squirrel-juniper-sky-mia-mcpherson-9697.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rock-squirrel-juniper-sky-mia-mcpherson-9697.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":111956,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/04\/02\/rock-squirrel-tree-topper\/","url_meta":{"origin":44963,"position":5},"title":"Rock Squirrel Tree Topper","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 2, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Almost three years ago, I photographed this Rock Squirrel perched in top of a juniper in the foothills of some sky island mountains in the West Desert of Utah.","rel":"","context":"In "Rock Squirrels"","block_context":{"text":"Rock Squirrels","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/wildlife\/rock-squirrels\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Rock Squirrel on a juniper on the West Desert, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rock-squirrel-juniper-mia-mcpherson-0428.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rock-squirrel-juniper-mia-mcpherson-0428.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rock-squirrel-juniper-mia-mcpherson-0428.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rock-squirrel-juniper-mia-mcpherson-0428.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44963","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44963"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44963\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/112375"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44963"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44963"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44963"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}