Uinta Ground Squirrel in golden light – Nikkor D500, f9, 1/500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
This is the time of the year when I look forward to taking my first of the season Uinta Ground Squirrel photos high in the Wasatch Mountains. Some people call them “Potguts”, some people call them pests, and then there is me. I adore these ground squirrels.
Last year on the 24th of April I spent time with two individual Uinta Ground Squirrels eating fat earthworms. It was the first time I had seen them munching away on worms and it was interesting to see.
I’ve shared these ground squirrels with my mom when she visited me in 2018 and we got to see their babies playing together.
I listen for their calls as I drive on dirt roads through the canyons and stop to take photos of them whenever I can.
Uinta Ground Squirrels are only seen for a few months of the year so I try to take as many images of them as I can while they are above ground.
They aren’t birds, they don’t have feathers, they don’t have wings and they don’t fly but I enjoy every moment I have when they are in my viewfinder.
Last year I didn’t take as many photos of Uinta Ground Squirrels as I would have liked to so this year I’ll make more of an effort to focus on them and have them in my viewfinder. Photographing them brings me joy and we need all the joy we can get in our lives.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Uinta Ground Squirrel photos plus facts and information about this species.
Simply put…perfect! I love how the muted background blends with the Squirrels colors and the detail is incredible. Mia, you bring us the fountain of life through your info and images of all things living. Thanks.
Perfect portrait!
Such a cute adorable face!
What an absolute beauty. Thank you for my early morning joy.
What a cutie! I always say, “If it moves, I photograph it”. Birds, animals, reptiles and insects…..except spiders.