Almost lost amidst the blaze of autumn leaves, this Douglas Squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii) pulled my eyes away from the abundant mushrooms near the trail around Matheson Lake. While I am quite familiar with the local Black and Grey Squirrels that live comfortably in our urban areas, I don't remember seeing a Douglas Squirrel before and I am happy to add this one to the roster of local indigenous animals that I have recorded here.
Here's another member of the local wildlife set here in the Similkameen Valley. This is a Columbian Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus columbianus), photographed in a small river valley that empties into the Similkameen River, called the Ashnola. These little ground squirrels are quite commonly seen keeping watch along the roadsides and whistling warnings to other nearby squirrels of anything unusual or dangerous.
Here's a close relative of the ground squirrel featured in a recent post, the Yellow Bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris). This one was living on a rock slope with numerous family and friends and there were several Columbian Ground Squirrels living there too. This photograph was taken on a spectacular trip above the Similkameen Valley near the Apex Mountain Ski Resort. I have now returned to Victoria but will share a few more of my holiday pictures over the next few days.
