A wild Richardson's Ground Squirrel on the grounds of the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

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Richardson's ground squirrel (Urocitellus richardsonii), or the flickertail, is a North American ground squirrel in the genus Urocitellus. Like a number of other ground squirrels, they are sometimes called Dak Rats or gophers, though this name belongs more strictly to the pocket gophers of family Geomyidae. They are also sometimes erroneously referred to as prairie dogs. Native to the short grass prairies, Richardson's ground squirrel is found mainly in the northern states of the United States, such as North Dakota and Montana, and in southern Canada, such as southern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan. The range of this animal expanded as forests were cleared to create farm land. They are not simply restricted to prairie; sometimes adapting to suburban environments, causing them to be seen as pests because of the burrows they dig. It is not unusual to find squirrels digging tunnels under the sidewalks and patios of urban homes. *** Description sourced from Wikipedia.

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Size: 2400px × 3200px
Location: University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Photo credit: © Felix Choo / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: flickertail, picket-pin