When camping in southwestern Colorado last week, these little guys were a constant presence providing for fun watching. In one of the captures you can see one calling. They make a rather shrill sound, almost more like you would expect from a bird, and it was, honestly, a bit annoying at times. Haha!
One of six species of ground squirrels here in Colorado, Wyoming ground squirrels are oftentimes mistaken for prairie dogs as they do look similar although they are smaller. In fact, they have earned the nickname of “high mountain prairie dogs” and are found at altitudes above 5,000 feet.
They are not always welcome as once established, they can take over ranchland, providing undesired competition for foraging livestock and have been known to chase out populations of golden-mantled squirrels. Wyoming ground squirrels do provide a good food source though for foxes, coyotes, badgers and birds of prey.
