Postcard - Texas Rock Squirrel

Texas Rock Squirrel
Otospermophilus variegatus, Greiner Ranch, Kerr County, Texas
There are eight types of squirrels in Texas, of which the Rock Squirrel is distributed across the entire Hill Country to far West Texas. These mottled colored grey, brown and black squirrels are always found in rocky areas, but they can climb trees. Living in colonies, their dens are in the ground, under rocks and tree roots. From November to February, or March, the ground squirrels hibernate. Their shrill call to other squirrels is a sharp, clear whistle that is often repeated.