Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel: Stripes and Spots

Well camouflaged with stripes and spots   © SB 

When this Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel ran out in front of me, we both froze. I don't know what it thought I was, but in that first flash, I thought it was a snake.

Dramatic as the markings appear in a still shot — and also when the ground squirrel stopped to stare at me — they provided very effective camouflage when it was running through deeper grass.

This little rodent looked about eight or nine inches long, from tip of nose to tip of tail, and about two inches high. It wouldn't let me near enough to guess closer than that.

What is this? A Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel.
Location: Condie Nature Refuge, near Regina, Saskatchewan.
Photo Date: September 3, 2011. 

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