
Mini-Whistle Pig - Uinta Ground Squirrel Kit, Oregon

by KJ Swan
Title
Mini-Whistle Pig - Uinta Ground Squirrel Kit, Oregon
Artist
KJ Swan
Medium
Photograph
Description
When a tiny, 3-inch fuzzy critter ran across the road, I had to stop. Looking down I saw tiny baby ground squirrels standing very still, staring at me and they were absolutely adorable.
Uinta Ground Squirrels, sometimes called Potguts, Chislers or Whistle-Pigs, are daylight loving, little desert-dwellers. They may be mistaken as miniature prairie dogs because they will sit up to look around and chirp an alarm.
Males emerge toward the end of March with females following a couple of weeks later. They surface to mate, eat and send a new generation out into the world. Mother squirrels don't care for their young beyond weaning so they all leave the borrow together giving them the best chance to survive predatory attacks.
Uploaded
June 21st, 2022
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Comments (3)

Larry Kniskern
Congratulations again, KJ – your stunning scene has been selected as an Honorable Mention from the Go Take a Hike Photography Group’s Nature’s Babies photo contest! It has been placed in the Special Recognition thread in the group discussion board for archive.
KJ Swan replied:
I really appreciate having this image being selected again! Thank you, Larry, for helping others find this tiny 3-inch baby squirrel. :D

Larry Kniskern
Congratulations, KJ – your stunning scene has been selected as a Group Admin’s Pick from the Go Take a Hike Photography Group’s Small Den Animals photo contest! It has been placed in the Special Recognition thread in the group discussion board for archive.

Larry Kniskern
Congratulations, KJ – your stunning scene has been selected as an Honorable Mention from the Go Take a Hike Photography Group’s Square Format photo contest! It has been placed in the Special Recognition thread in the group discussion board for archive.
KJ Swan replied:
Thank you Larry for selecting this image as an Honorable Mention from the Go Take A Hike group!