One of the cool things about the West and the Southwest is that lots of species get pooled and segregated into little genetic pools—at the top of isolated mountains, squirrels that once roamed and mingled now have been separated for ages, like the nine sub-species of Abert's squirrel. Now at Yosemite, the Alpine chipmunk is being forced to ascend uphill as well, into isolated genetic pods. Radical lesbian elitist climate change atheist publication Nature Climate Change reported the details on how "global warming" is forcing the squirrels ever upwards. Climb, chipmunks! Climb for your lives! (Picture: a detail from a photo by Miss Pudding.)
Monday, February 20, 2012
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Ummm, no.
Stop looking for handouts and get a job, chipmunk.
So I don't want to be that guy, but I think that's actually a photo of a golden-mantled ground squirrel.
Also, I totally want to be that guy.
Chipmunks have pointy, striped faces.
Ground squirrels are the secret demons of Sierra backpacking. They will absolutely destroy your equipment to get at your delicious foods. If you camp during the afternoon while they're still active, you need a to have someone with a pile of pinecones to guard the packs. It's like the siege of Helm's Deep, but adorable.
@Multiphasic That guy does good work.
@Multiphasic I LOVE YOUUUUUU.
@Choire Sicha Srsly. I love a man who knows his Sierran sciuridae.
Discovery of the many sub-species of Albert's squirrel was one of the lesser known but vital achievements of the Victorian era.
I'm a radical lesbian elitist climate change atheist trapped in a WASPY man's body.