summer_jackel

I went to the sea today, and the sea was very kind to me...some completely fabulous tidepooling. I took a lot of pictures, which should be up soon. These didn't fit the theme, and are therefore in their own post.

And one plant. Rose at the Oakland rose garden. I love yellow everything and I love spiral shapes. This flower entranced me for awhile.

Adorable little fox squirrel taken again in the rose garden, which is a small swath of green in the middle of a very urban area. I realized that I didn't know enough about my local squirrels and did a bit of research after taking these pics and trying to exactly identify its species. This has actually been bugging me since I was a child, if you can believe it...why are all the reddish squirrels in town and the grey ones in the country? It turns out that in California (at least North/central) there are three common tree squirrel species...two grey colored ones (Western Grey and Douglas'), which are native species, and the fox squirrels (pictured) which are originally from the other side of the rockies but which were introduced. I would love to know all the details of why and how they were introduced and why they seem to thrive in urban environments while the greys don't. The distribution of all three species fascinates me, too...I've only rarely seen both species in any one area, and I've never seen the fox squirrel in a very rural or wilderness area in this state. I'd love to know how accurate I am in that observation. (anyone notice really rural fox squirrels or urban greys in CA?) Alas, the internet hasn't turned up that info yet.

Here, you just wanted the cute critter pic, but I did mention that I've been wondering about this squirrel thing since I was a kid. Urban wildlife, invasive wildlife, how other creatures use us to their advantage, etc., fascinates me endlessly.

Also, doesn't he have cute fluffy ears?! He came so close (I had food) and was still for the camera.