spermophilus spilosoma
El Paso County, Colorado — Chico Basin Ranch
Tuesday, April 19, 2022 — 12:57 pm
As I was leaving Chico Basin Ranch on the dirt road, I spotted this small squirrel standing on the side of the road. It was obviously too small to be a prairie dog or even a Wyoming Ground Squirrel, and from what I could see, it wasn’t a Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel. I made a quick U-turn and pulled up next to it. It scurried to its nearby hold and poked its head out, watching me. We stared at each other for about two minutes until it suddenly ducked around and disappeared down the hole.
Its tiny size and the spots on its back visible in this photo are diagnostic.
