I was trying to get organized and packed for a hike, but these little guys were distracting me. I couldn't resist grabbing my camera... the hike could wait. Let me introduce you to the antelope ground squirrel. According to Wikipedia, there are four recognized species, and I think this one is the white-tailed antelope squirrel.
They are small, and look more like a chipmunk to me. They are extremely curious. This little guy is sniffing at our sliding glass door. They are able to resist hyperthermia and can survive body temperatures over 104 degrees! They stay active even in the brutal midday heat of the desert summer.
They frequently stand on two legs.
They like to explore flower pots.
They can stretch!
And easily get inside wire that is meant to keep them OUT!!
They can climb straight up a stucco wall!
These two where chasing each other around and around this post. Very funny to watch!
They frequently lay very flat, arms and legs spread out. Now do you see why I had to put off my hike to take some pics?
Some of the locals call them devils, pests, varmints, and other names not suitable to print here. They will eat up all your favorite plants. But you gotta admit, they are cute!
Now, off to my hike and on a mission to capture some nice sky-watch shots!
Thanks for stopping by, and have a great weekend!
Awww - those creatures are adorable! Great shots of the sky too!
ReplyDeleteLove the flaming sky
ReplyDeleteCute squirrel
ReplyDeleteYes---- they share many attributes with chipmunks! Adorable little critters. All of these pictures are, as usual, fantastic!
ReplyDeleteWhat amazing little critters! It was nice to see them.
ReplyDeleteYou surely enjoyed your hike...
So cute and I remember from our trips to the USA some chipmunks who tried to open our rucksacks to get to the cookies inside even walking.
ReplyDeleteYour post reminded me of a squirrel I passed a few days ago that suddenly leaped from a trash can to the ground directly in front of someone passing by, much to that persons shock.
ReplyDeleteThey are very appealing little animals and true survivors it seems. That desert environment must challenge all of their survival skills. You did well to take the time needed to get some pictures.
ReplyDeleteWith the stripes, you'd almost think they were more related to chipmunks. I am going to have to do a little research to learn more. Our grey squirrels in New York can be so destructive - I've had more than one planter uprooted by them, and don't dare have a bird feeder (at least for now). Your sunset pictures are stunning.
ReplyDeleteHello, squirrels are so cute. Adorable photos. Your sky images are stunning. Beautiful images. Enjoy your day, wishing you a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteGlorious skies!!
ReplyDeleteIhre Aufnahmen begeistern mich!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the facts about the squirrel. I did not know that species existed. You did a great job with the pictorial life of the little creatures. And Yes it is easy to see how they can be loved and hated. LOL
ReplyDeleteThe sunsets of the deserts rival sunsets at sea! Love 'em both.
Thanks for the visit to your house.
Sherry & jack in North Carolina.
You had me squeeeeeeing
ReplyDeleteThen I came to those gorgeous sunsets...oh my goodness!!
Oh my gosh, super cute! Great sunset pics too.
ReplyDeleteAwesome, well worth putting off a hike for. The sky's are stupendous
ReplyDeleteOh absolutely SPP, they are totally adorable, and so photogenic. Looks like they were having a lot of fun in the sun 😊 You captured some fabulous skies there also 💛
ReplyDeleteWhat cuties! They sure know how to stretch. :) Great captures on the stunning skies, they are absolutely beautiful.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the weekend!
Ihre Bilder und Reportagen erfreuen mich jede Woche,hier bei Skaywatch.
ReplyDeleteThey are so cute. And photogenic too. The sky shots are beyond beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWorth a Thousand Words
Those are darn cute little critters. I also like the first sunset shot toward the end.
ReplyDeleteThey are very cute! Oh my that shot of him stretching is fantastic! They do look like chipmunks a little bit! I love the sky shots!!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous sky shots! Very cute critters.
ReplyDeleteThey are certainly cute!! I used to think squirrels were cute until we had one get in our attic and have pups. We had to wait until the pups were grown before the removal guy could trap them and take them somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteGreat, great sunset images!!
Those squirrels seem to be very cute animals. I would like to make a photoshoot with them. We have some more worrysome animals around the house, they bite the car's cables. Being night animals it's hard to catch them ...
ReplyDeleteYour skyshots are awesome with those wonderful coloured clouds.
Wishing yoy a wonderful week4end.
I have never seen these little guys but would love to, they are even cuter than our squirrels. I agree they kind of look like chipmunks. my favorite is the standing on 2 feet. that last photos is beyond beautiful and I LOVE IT>
ReplyDeleteI've never seen this cutie squirrel before and I love the glorious sunset too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment - if you have a son who climbed Half Dome --- I don't know if it would be too tough for you, to climb in the desert is also draining, with that heat. You might be able to do it on a cool day, and with pauses ...What hubs always did was, on first day Yosemite Falls, on second Nevada Falls, on third day Half Dome. The hardest to climb is the top, because you go on a rope ladder, holding on to the "railing" with gloves. But nowadays you need to sign up to climb the top (the day before?)
ReplyDeleteThey are cute. And it sounds like they're well adapted to the desert. But I can see why they'd be called varmints, especially if they get into your plants.
ReplyDeleteSo cute squirrels :)Nice post.
ReplyDeleteAmazing skies.
Happy Weekend.
Your squire looks bit different from what we have here. I´ve seen them climbing the walls similary. Funny lil greatures. The last pic is amazing, wouldn´t mind traveling that road myself. Nice ones as usual.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree that these squirrels are so cute. I would be tempted to keep them as pets. Stunning and gorgeous sky shots.
ReplyDeleteThey are adorable. And the skies are beyond beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWhat adorable shots of these equally adorable creatures. I see quite a lot of these guys here in the Arizona desert. However, I must admit, I've never seen one climb a stucco wall. I love these photos.
ReplyDeleteThey do look a lot like a chipmunk. Like most squirrels, they can be pesty I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteThey are so cute ..
ReplyDeleteLove the wonderful skies.
What a cute little guy with many talents. I had never heard of an antelope squirrel before.
ReplyDeleteThey are very cute little things, I hope they have enough water there.
ReplyDeleteAdorable squirrel shots!
ReplyDeleteThey ARE cute! If they become frequent visitors, you'll have to name them. Nice photographs of the sky.
ReplyDeleteWow, awesome sky shots! Love your little squirrels too. So cute, and they do look like chipmunks.
ReplyDeleteWhat A Skyline!! Like WoW!! That Stucco Shot Cracked Me Up. Its As If That Little Guy Is Saying," You Don't See Me."
ReplyDeleteCheers
Dolcissimi scoiattoli e magnifiche foto del tuo cielo così colorato !!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, I can see why you were distracted - each picture is better than the one before. That is quite a stretch … and who knew they were also rock climbers? Adorable, indeed, UNTIL they eat the landscaping and dig holes under a foundation!!!
ReplyDeleteFire in the sky! Beautiful colorful pallet and those squirrels are so cute, we don't have squirrels here int he Philippines as far as I know...
ReplyDeleteHi SP&P, The little antelope squirrels are absolutely cute and fascinating! I'm glad you stopped and got the camera in hand! :-) It looks like they can go just about anywhere. And those last 3 photos ... OMG ... superior sky photos for sure! Thanks for sharing. And thanks for your kind words on my blog. Happy 4th to you and yours and have a fine weekend ahead. John
ReplyDeleteWhoa! They are cute for sure. They do look like Chipmunks too. We get a few gray Squirrels to our feeders and sometimes the Douglas Squirrel or also called a Chickeree---they are real cute but I chase away the Grays.
ReplyDeleteMB
Beautiful sunset photos. Those little critters look very cute, they sure are stretchy!!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteVery nice animals, beautiful photos.