Columbian Ground Squirrel, Fintry, BC

Columbian Ground Squirrel, Fintry, BC · 01:22 AM

Took this with standard zoom lens at 55mm, but had to do a bit of stalking to get close enough and had to crop image. 1/60th at F5.6, 100ASA. Took it on one of our regular trips to the Okanagan, BC, Canada, where we hope to re-locate from England in 2008. I think it is a Columbian Ground Squirrel, but I'm open to more expert knowledge.

Paul

Pentax K10D

Standard Kit Lens 18mm - 55 mm

Fintry Provincial Park, Okanagan, BC, Canada

channeler · 06-19-2007, 02:41 AM

The more I look at this photo the more I wonder if I'm right about it being a Columbian Ground Squirrel. It seems heavier set that the others I've seen in the past. It was also vey much living amongst the rocks on a mountain side. Any chance it could be a Yellow Bellied Marmot or?

Paul

codiac2600 · 06-19-2007, 03:07 AM

That looks like no squirrel I've ever seen, but I'm no expert. LOL, looks nothing like the Rocky nor Slappy squirrel either. He looks to have been fed quite the meal and become the king of squirrels lol. Other than the fact he looks like the Godfather of squirrels this is a nice capture and I hope you find out what kind he is!

channeler · 06-20-2007, 02:04 AM

Hi Chris,

Now had some expert input. Yes, it isn't any ground squirrel, not even a "Godfather". It is a Yellow Bellied Marmot. Apparently there are a number of them in Fintry Provincial Park, BC, where I took the photo and they become a pest at times burrowing under buildings, toilets, etc., and undermining the floors.

Paul

little laker · 06-20-2007, 08:16 AM

That's exactly what it is Paul

Thanks for the picture

Marmots have got to be the cutest, most playful animals out there. There's at least 6 (from what I can tell) Mountain Marmots living at my place.

I would have never question you calling it a Columbian Ground Squirrel, since for all I know that might be the correct name for them where your from.

channeler · 06-20-2007, 10:10 AM

No Stu, all we have here in England are grey and red tree squirrels and the latter are thin on the ground (and in the trees for that matter). I'd seen some Columbian Ground Squirrels in the Rockies and when I saw this fellah in Fintry the colouring threw me at first as it seemed quite similar to the colouring of the ground squirrels. The more I looked at the photo though the more hefty this fellah looked, as Chris also commented. Also this guy seemed to be pretty well on his own - there certainly wasn't a big colony of them. If I hadn't had the photo so I could ask someone I would have just gone with my first thoughts.

Paul

**SCGushue** · 06-20-2007, 10:35 AM

Well, they don't have yellow bellies out here in the east. We call them what they are... woodchucks! The farmers call'em varments!

Stephen

channeler · 06-21-2007, 05:51 AM

Hi Stephen,

I'm no expert but as far as I know they are different varments. The woodchuck lives in pastures/fields and the Yellow Bellied specialises in mountainsides. The woodchuck doesn't have the yellow belly and the face colouring is supposed to be different. I guess they look pretty similar in build.

Paul

daacon · 06-21-2007, 05:55 AM

Wahtever the critter is they are in sharp focus - nice capture and looks to well on their way preparing for the winter season haha!

**SCGushue** · 06-22-2007, 09:31 PM

Originally posted by channeler

Hi Stephen,

I'm no expert but as far as I know they are different varments. The woodchuck lives in pastures/fields and the Yellow Bellied specialises in mountainsides. The woodchuck doesn't have the yellow belly and the face colouring is supposed to be different. I guess they look pretty similar in build.

Paul

They are different as you say but taxanomically they are both marmots in the genus Marmota (or Marmosa... something like that) and they are found all the way to Alaska down the Pacific NW. Personally, I like the little critters, though they can harbor the plague. I have them living on the property at the edge of the woods. They love to raid my culinary herb garden, favoring fresh parsley... to the point of eating it all!

Good thing I believe he's entitled to what he wants to eat.... after all... his ancestors where here before me.

Stephen

little laker · 06-22-2007, 09:52 PM

Originally posted by daacon

Wahtever the critter is they are in sharp focus - nice capture and looks to well on their way preparing for the winter season haha!

Probably the opposite, they basically live in the hottest area of Canada and our summers just beginning

Oh, Did I ever mention that summers here are beautiful

You have Dessert with a beautiful lake in the middle. Orchards, Scenic Mountains. Lots of animals, including Snakes, Bears and Cougars. And lots of fishing and hiking

Now you know how I can post several beautiful pictures just about any day that I take the camera out

And any Pentax Forums members taking the trip over here are more than welcome to contact me for a photo adventure. I can show them places that they'd never find on their own

Even free camping if they're up to that.

channeler · 06-23-2007, 03:10 PM

We won't bother trying to grow parsley when we move to the okanagan then Stephen. Are there any herbs they aren't partial to?

Good PR job for the Okanagan Stu. I agree with you all the way. I don't want to get tooooo close to those bears and cougars though!

Paul

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06-20-2007, 02:04 AM	#4
channeler Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northwich Cheshire England Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,009 Original Poster	Yellow Bellied Marmot Hi Chris, Now had some expert input. Yes, it isn't any ground squirrel, not even a "Godfather". It is a Yellow Bellied Marmot. Apparently there are a number of them in Fintry Provincial Park, BC, where I took the photo and they become a pest at times burrowing under buildings, toilets, etc., and undermining the floors. Paul

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06-19-2007, 02:41 AM	#2
channeler Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northwich Cheshire England Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,009 Original Poster	The more I look at this photo the more I wonder if I'm right about it being a Columbian Ground Squirrel. It seems heavier set that the others I've seen in the past. It was also vey much living amongst the rocks on a mountain side. Any chance it could be a Yellow Bellied Marmot or? Paul

06-19-2007, 03:07 AM	#3
codiac2600 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 2,027	That looks like no squirrel I've ever seen, but I'm no expert. LOL, looks nothing like the Rocky nor Slappy squirrel either. He looks to have been fed quite the meal and become the king of squirrels lol. Other than the fact he looks like the Godfather of squirrels this is a nice capture and I hope you find out what kind he is!

06-20-2007, 08:16 AM	#5
little laker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,697	That's exactly what it is Paul Thanks for the picture Marmots have got to be the cutest, most playful animals out there. There's at least 6 (from what I can tell) Mountain Marmots living at my place. I would have never question you calling it a Columbian Ground Squirrel, since for all I know that might be the correct name for them where your from.

06-20-2007, 10:10 AM	#6
channeler Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northwich Cheshire England Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,009 Original Poster	No Stu, all we have here in England are grey and red tree squirrels and the latter are thin on the ground (and in the trees for that matter). I'd seen some Columbian Ground Squirrels in the Rockies and when I saw this fellah in Fintry the colouring threw me at first as it seemed quite similar to the colouring of the ground squirrels. The more I looked at the photo though the more hefty this fellah looked, as Chris also commented. Also this guy seemed to be pretty well on his own - there certainly wasn't a big colony of them. If I hadn't had the photo so I could ask someone I would have just gone with my first thoughts. Paul

06-20-2007, 10:35 AM	#7
SCGushue Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,449	Well, they don't have yellow bellies out here in the east. We call them what they are... woodchucks! The farmers call'em varments! Stephen

06-21-2007, 05:51 AM	#8
channeler Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northwich Cheshire England Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,009 Original Poster	Hi Stephen, I'm no expert but as far as I know they are different varments. The woodchuck lives in pastures/fields and the Yellow Bellied specialises in mountainsides. The woodchuck doesn't have the yellow belly and the face colouring is supposed to be different. I guess they look pretty similar in build. Paul

06-21-2007, 05:55 AM	#9
daacon Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alberta,Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 20,914	Wahtever the critter is they are in sharp focus - nice capture and looks to well on their way preparing for the winter season haha!

06-22-2007, 09:31 PM	#10
SCGushue Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,449	Originally posted by channeler Hi Stephen, I'm no expert but as far as I know they are different varments. The woodchuck lives in pastures/fields and the Yellow Bellied specialises in mountainsides. The woodchuck doesn't have the yellow belly and the face colouring is supposed to be different. I guess they look pretty similar in build. Paul They are different as you say but taxanomically they are both marmots in the genus Marmota (or Marmosa... something like that) and they are found all the way to Alaska down the Pacific NW. Personally, I like the little critters, though they can harbor the plague. I have them living on the property at the edge of the woods. They love to raid my culinary herb garden, favoring fresh parsley... to the point of eating it all! Good thing I believe he's entitled to what he wants to eat.... after all... his ancestors where here before me. Stephen

06-22-2007, 09:52 PM	#11
little laker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,697	Originally posted by daacon Wahtever the critter is they are in sharp focus - nice capture and looks to well on their way preparing for the winter season haha! Probably the opposite, they basically live in the hottest area of Canada and our summers just beginning Oh, Did I ever mention that summers here are beautiful You have Dessert with a beautiful lake in the middle. Orchards, Scenic Mountains. Lots of animals, including Snakes, Bears and Cougars. And lots of fishing and hiking Now you know how I can post several beautiful pictures just about any day that I take the camera out And any Pentax Forums members taking the trip over here are more than welcome to contact me for a photo adventure. I can show them places that they'd never find on their own Even free camping if they're up to that.

06-23-2007, 03:10 PM	#12
channeler Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northwich Cheshire England Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,009 Original Poster	We won't bother trying to grow parsley when we move to the okanagan then Stephen. Are there any herbs they aren't partial to? Good PR job for the Okanagan Stu. I agree with you all the way. I don't want to get tooooo close to those bears and cougars though! Paul

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