MAMMALS OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK 



67 



tumble down into the intricate rock maze 

 to be safe. The basking points have a 

 great many droppings on them — elon- 

 gate, dark and about one-half inch in 

 diameter. 



Heavy as it is, this gigantic ground 

 squirrel can sit up straight on its hind 

 legs if that is necessary to obtain a better 

 field of vision against the possible ap- 

 proach of enemies. The call is a short 

 whistle, though not as man-like as that 

 of the hoary marmot in Olympic, Mt. 

 Rainier and Glacier National Parks. 



Our marmots tend to live in groups, 

 but not large colonies. Like a true wood- 

 chuck, they are not active at night and 

 they hibernate in the winter. 



The Belding ground squirrel can 

 scarcely escape notice by the summer vis- 

 itor to Tuolumne Meadows. Their piping, 

 whistle-like calls resound on every hand 

 and they are quite in evidence as they 

 sit up very straight, like a stake driven 

 into the ground, in the effort to maintain 





From Kodacbrome by Anderson 



Belding ground squirrel 



From cast by M. V. Hood 

 Belding ground squirrel tracks. Six-inch pencil. 



a more effective lookout for danger. This 

 last habit has earned for them the popu- 

 lar name, "picket-pin gopher." They are 

 about the size of a house rat, but have a 

 short, hairy tail. The upper parts are yel- 

 lowish gray with a wide, reddish-brown 

 streak down the back. 



Belding ground squirrels are most 

 common in our higher meadows, though 

 meadow land is not absolutely necessary 

 for them, so long as a good supply of 

 grasses, herbs and their seeds is available 

 for food. 



Home and shelter are in the ground. 

 Since wnters are very long in the high 

 country, and these animals hibernate, it 

 can be seen that a great proportion of 

 their lives must be spent underground. 

 Badgers are very assiduous in digging 

 them out. Besides predatory birds, other 

 enemies are known to include weasels 

 and the mountain coyote. 



The antics of Beldings are interesting 

 to watch, for they are very active. When 

 the young first appear above ground, 

 they remain in the vicinity of the hole, 

 while the mother mounts guard to give 

 the alarm in case of danger. As the season 

 progresses, the youngsters go forth on 

 their own and dig individual burrows 

 for themselves. 



