66 ANIMAL LIFE OF CARLSBAD CAVERN 



ROCK SQUIRREL 



Citellus grammurus grammurus 



The rock squirrels can climb trees, and would do so 

 if there were any near, but they are generally found, 

 as their name implies, among the rocks. At the Carls- 

 bad Cavern they are common along the canyon walls 

 and around the entrance, but only in a very small way 

 are they cave dwellers. They often live in little caves 

 or in clefts of the rocks, or under heaps of broken rock 

 talus where the cavities are small enough to exclude 

 such enemies as foxes, bobcats, ring-tails, skunks, and 

 other carnivores. They are sturdy animals, and fierce 

 fighters when cornered, but really they are timid and 

 shy, and their main protection lies in rocky cover and 

 eternal vigilance. They are often seen sitting up on 

 rocks or points of the cliff on the watch for enemies, and 

 when danger approaches they give a sharp whistle as a 

 warning to friends and families, and all rush to cover. 

 A few living in the low cliffs near the cave shaft came 

 regularly for the grain scattered for them and the quail. 

 They were often seen sitting on the rock pile below the 

 bunk house, but quickly disappeared if a person ap- 

 proached. With continued feeding and protection they 

 would become very tame and would be a source of 

 much interest and pleasure to visitors at the cave. In 

 spring they are especially eager for grain or any extra 

 food available, but later when the little black walnuts 

 and acorns are matured, they find an abundance of 

 rich food and become very fat. They are as good eat- 

 ing as any squirrels. One that I took for a specimen, 



