This little guy/gal posed so nicely for us near the side of the road. Seen on a great day out with friends, Cathy and Terry, when we went west of Calgary to the mountains, on 20 May 2012. If I remember correctly, this was taken along the Smith-Dorrien road. Here, in the city, we only get the Richardson's Ground Squirrels, but in the mountains, you see these attractive Columbian Ground Squirrels. Don't like to say it, but I suspect the main purpose in life for Ground Squirrels is to provide snacks, lunches and dinners for predators such as Coyotes, Hawks, etc..

www.nhptv.org/natureworks/columbiangroundsquirrel.htm