To celebrate #squirrelappreciationday, going to share excerpts from my upcoming book, Yosemite Wildlife, with the @YoseConservancy about our Sierra squirrels. First up: Meet "A Dapper Chunk of Spunkiness” or the Belding ground squirrel. "One of the most interesting small animals of the Sierra Nevada is the Belding ground squirrel. This dapper chunk of spunkiness frisks about the alpine meadows in great colonies, foraging for food among the open patches of bunch grass, sunning himself on the alluvial flats, and playing hide and seek with his brothers and sisters among the small glacial boulders. —Hal Roth, Sierra Club Bulletin, 1962 Visitors to Tuolumne Meadows can’t help but take notice of an entertaining critter, abundant and active among the grassy areas of the higher elevations. This small but sprightly animal, who twitch their noses and whistle a cheerful, loud warning at hikers as they pass, stand upright with their dainty paws in repose on their chest as they guard their territory. If one approaches too close, the animal will rapidly dart away and disappear into one of their many burrow holes, although frequently peeking their head out curiously and cautiously so they can give the all-clear signal once the perceived danger has passed. These enlivening antics are a typical introduction to the Belding ground squirrel, nicknamed “picket pins” as their frequent upright posture resembles the ground pickets used to tether horses." Photo of a Belding ground squirrel I met near Mt Dana.

I just love the Douglas squirrels or chickarees as they are nicknamed-their loud chatter and playful antics are always fun to encounter in the Yosemite high country. Part of my ode to the chickaree, from my upcoming book Yosemite Wildlife with the @YoseConservancy In my wanderings in Yosemite, I have had the good fortune to partake in many conversations with chickarees. Any intruder into their territory is first assumed to be a threat. Harry Parker, in Mammals of Yosemite National Park, describes the squirrel’s approach to strange encounters as “if the intruder is noisy, or startles the chickaree, the animal’s extensive vocabulary is brought into play and one is readily convinced that this animal can swear!” Although our meetings usually have begun with the squirrel giving me a stern scolding, the discussion tends to end on a friendly note, once they realize I am not interested in taking over their territory or locating their secret food cache. The chickaree really does possess a bark worse than their bite, and their boisterous manner and constant chatter actually act as a benign defensive mechanism, as noted in Mammals of the World: “Most interactions between individuals are agnostic because individuals aggressively defend territorial boundaries with vocalizations and chases.” The antics of the chickaree match the expressiveness of their vocal chatter, with feet stomping and tail flicking accentuating their message. This is truly a squirrel who knows how to throw some serious shade! And if their words and manner aren’t enough of a take down to us humans, they will also make you feel inferior with their astounding agility. For along with their chatter, they are a delight to watch as they scale the trees, talented in the art of squirrel parkour, dashing and bounding in their universe of the forest canopy. In One Day on Beetle Rock, naturalist and writer Sally Carrighar re-creates the life of a host of Sierra forest creatures, including the chickaree. “Every branch in his trees he would make his own beyond question, by knowing all its turns, its twigs and lichen, and the leaping distance from other boughs.” #SquirrelAppreciationDay A chickaree I encountered at Gaylor Lakes in Yosemite.

An ode to the marmot for Squirrel Appreciation day! Yes, marmots are indeed squirrels, one of the largest members of the family Sciuridae, although one possible origin for their name is Latin for "mountain mouse." This is a yellow-bellied marmot, the species we see in the Sierra. Marmots are very charming creatures, but also very skilled thieves--as you will learn if you leave your pack unattended on a hike! #squirrelday #SquirrelAppreciationDay

Your Daily Pika: "...how can you not fall in love with this round little critter who trumpets a boisterous call, wrinkles their nose and wiggles their Mickey Mouse ears to greet you, and dashes and bounds over the rocks at lightning speed after flashing you their itsy-bitsy furry pajama-bottom feet and seemingly tailless round bum?" From my upcoming book, Yosemite Wildlife, with the @YoseConservancy Conservancy, coming this fall! Pika in Yosemite, August 2012

Yosemite high country this morning via @YoseConservancy webcam