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I've never seen a gopher do this before

NorCalMikie said:
Gopher? Looks like a "ground squirrel" to me. They will even climb trees.
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What we call "gophers" are Richardson's ground squirrels. I've shot thousands of them, and have never seen one anywhere near a tree.
There are lots of other species not as wide spread as Richardson's. Which type have you seen climb in trees?
We have a few Franklin's around here, and they love brushpiles, but I've never seen one more than maybe a foot or two off the ground.
 
I think that is perhaps a learned thing among some populations of them, on one ranch I shoot it is not uncommon to see them on fenceposts or sitting/standing on top of a sagebrush.

A few years ago before cellphone cameras were common. I was shooting my 223 with 40 gr Nosler BT and I shot a large gopher (ground squirrel) at about 100 yds that was standing on top of a sagebrush. It took off the upper half of his body but the lower half was still sitting there grasping the sagebrush branch, one of those times when I wish that I would have had a camera.
I have never been able to figure out the dynamics of how that could happen.

drover
 
Two or three years ago in the Colorado San Juan Mountains, sitting quietly in a place surrounded by large rocks and some low brush, no more than about 5 feet high. After some time some ground squirrels started coming out, first one and then some more. At first they'd come out for a brief time and then disappear but after me sitting very still for a while longer they'd pretty much ignore me and just forage around very close, like a few feet away. I had no gun though (at least not near enough) so it was just entertainment.
 
drover said:
I think that is perhaps a learned thing among some populations of them, on one ranch I shoot it is not uncommon to see them on fenceposts or sitting/standing on top of a sagebrush.

A few years ago before cellphone cameras were common. I was shooting my 223 with 40 gr Nosler BT and I shot a large gopher (ground squirrel) at about 100 yds that was standing on top of a sagebrush. It took off the upper half of his body but the lower half was still sitting there grasping the sagebrush branch, one of those times when I wish that I would have had a camera.
I have never been able to figure out the dynamics of how that could happen.

drover
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drover, agree, and have seen similar events here with the Belding's.

Your sagebrush sitting rat must have had a very tight grip with his little feet on the sage, so when the bullet severed his upper half, his death-grip was enough for the lower half to remain perched. That must have been quite the sight.

Sometimes I ponder how many cool events were missed when out in the wild when we didn't have a camera with us, and prior to cellphone cameras. No excuses now! ;)
 
Gopher or ground squirrel, I’ve seen several standing up on stumps or logs. They also run across the gravel roads right in front of the truck like kamikazes with a death wish. Our cat kills them for dinner and sometimes just for sport.
 
JFrank said:
Gopher or ground squirrel, I’ve seen several standing up on stumps or logs. They also run across the gravel roads right in front of the truck like kamikazes with a death wish. Our cat kills them for dinner and sometimes just for sport.
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In Alberta they're officially Richardson's Ground Squirrels, but many people call them gophers out of habit.

When I lived in Ontario we had the same ground hogs they get in the NE US. We called them gophers too. So when I moved to Alberta and a buddy took me out to shoot "gophers" I thought "what the heck?!?!", we're are the adults?
 
Here in Orygun we have a sub-species of ground squirrel that has learned to fly....albeit with a bit of 'ballistic assistence', hence his moniker "Skippy the Flying Squirrel". ;)









Nothng like a real crowd pleaser in the rat patch to liven up the day!
 
Jonnyofalltrades said:
My son was on a photography expedition to Grasslands National Park last week, and sent me this photo.
Has anyone else seen a gopher do this?
AcccelR8, you sort of inspired me. View attachment 1677504
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My Wife and I were driving around yesterday in the Sandhills of N.D. shooting Gophers. We haven't did it in years. She was shooting a 17HMR and I was shooting a 10/22. We must of shot close to 30 of them. Just driving down the Prairie trails and turning the pickup sideways. Every one we shot was a 13 stripper. And yes it is legal to do.

I have shot 1000's of Gophers. I have shot them off rocks and dirt mounds. But never see one on top of a fence post. Nice action shot
 
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