Mountain ground Squirrel

Description:

The mountain ground squirrel is a large-bodied squirrel with small ears. The total length of head and body measures 23 to 29 cm (9.1 to 11.4 in)[7][8], tail length from 21 to 28 cm (8.3 to 11.0 in)[7][8], and weight ranges from 490 to 710 grams (1.1 to 1.6 lb).[2] The body is covered in short, pale cinnamon brown hair, which changes to white on the belly, around the eyes, and on the front of the face. A white stripe extends from shoulders to hips. There is no underfur, and the skin is black. Tail hairs are white with three black stripes.[6] appearance that the two are difficult to distinguish in the field. breed shortly after[10], or even before[11], their emergence from hibernation burrows in May. Courtship consists of sniffing the genital region, followed by mounting, although mounting has also been observed between females. Marmot dens are usually found under large rocks or boulders which prevents a predator from digging them up and protects them from the elements. Marmot predators include the wolf, cougar, coyote, fox, owl and eagle. When they are not sunning themselves on lookout rocks, marmots are usually foraging for tasty vegetation, munching on lichen, leaves, flowers, roots, seeds and berries. Predators include golden eagles, grizzly and black bears, wolves, coyotes, red foxes, lynxes, cougars and wolverine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Gr...