Friday, March 9, 2012

Spring might be springing after all

So many bloggers have been saying "Spring has sprung" but they've all been in different parts of the world. Today, however, a little critter we hereabouts call a gopher, but which is actually a Richardson's Ground Squirrel, ran across the Trans Canada Highway in front of our car as we were coming home from Medicine Hat.
I looked carefully as we passed the BMX track down the street from our house, because lots of our so-called gophers live in tunnels they've dug there, but I didn't see any. The one we saw on the freeway looked healthy, and it was certainly spry enough, as it got safely across four lanes of traffic.
Although there are a few small patches of snow left on the north side of our house, the outside temperature as I write this (3:40 pm) is 19 degrees Celsius, which is equivalent to 66 degrees Fahrenheit.
I'm submitting this post to Misty Dawn's Camera Critters as an extra this week.

There are three "gophers" in this photo, but two are hiding in last summer's long green grass and one is acting as lookout. It doesn't seem too worried about Dick and Lindy.
© Richard Schear, photo, 2011

Richardson's Ground Squirrel, Wikipedia photo
at

16 comments:

  1. GraceMarch 9, 2012 at 4:51 PM

    Nice picture...the weather here has been erratic...one moment warm, next flurries ~ The weekend forecast is looking good though ~

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  2. kaykualaMarch 9, 2012 at 4:56 PM

    If you didn't mention I would not have noticed. Yes, I could see the 3 of them. We, over here in the East have sunshine (and intermittent downpours) all year round. It would be fun to have snows even for a few seconds!

    Hank

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  3. Sherry Blue SkyMarch 9, 2012 at 8:32 PM

    Oh so adorably cute!!!!

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  4. Martha ZMarch 9, 2012 at 8:41 PM

    There cute, except when they're digging in your garden. Here it is voles and rabbits that plague my garden.

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  5. diane bMarch 9, 2012 at 9:13 PM

    Glad to hear that it is warming up for you. We are still waiting for it to cool down, although I must admit the mornings are beautiful when its not raining.
    The little ground squirrel is cute. I can see its friends too.

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  6. RamblingWoods2.comMarch 9, 2012 at 9:46 PM

    I came from Kay's blog and had to tell you that I my paternal grandparents were from England and Scotland and I never got my grandmother's recipe for her short bread nor have I been able to duplicate it....you brought back lovely memories...Michelle

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  7. LewMarch 9, 2012 at 11:28 PM

    Your weather is about like hours, though it is near freezing and windy tonight. Our tree squirrels do not pay much attention to the neighborhood cats (our rescued Siamese are restricted to watching through the window).

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  8. FranMarch 9, 2012 at 11:37 PM

    How sweet are they! I didn't realise that gophers are squirrels. Here a gopher is someone in an office who goes for this and goes for that! Xxx

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  9. Cezar and LéiaMarch 10, 2012 at 2:47 AM

    Very cuddly critters announcing spring here... :)
    God bless you!
    Cezar

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  10. IngridMarch 10, 2012 at 3:32 AM

    19°C !! you lucky girl ! and the little squirrel pointing its nose, (I have never seen such) Here it's still grey today 11° and no spring in sight !

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  11. LadyFiMarch 10, 2012 at 9:33 AM

    What cute gopher shots!

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  12. Tatjana ParkachevaMarch 10, 2012 at 10:13 AM

    Adorable!

    Regards and best wishes

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  13. LeslieMarch 10, 2012 at 10:58 AM

    Well those temps sound quite spring-ish!

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  14. Powell River BooksMarch 10, 2012 at 5:18 PM

    Cute little guy, but like regular gophers their tunnels are probably a nuisance. Wow - 19 degrees! That's a lot warmer than we've been. - Margy

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  15. eileeninmdMarch 11, 2012 at 6:12 AM

    What a cute critter, great sighting!

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  16. LinneaMarch 11, 2012 at 11:39 AM

    They are cute, aren't they?! I was out walking alongside our local golf course the other day and noticed quite a few gophers out enjoying the warm sunshine. Spring will soon arrive in your parts!

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