The Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel is widespread in moist coniferous or mixed forests through much of western North America from Southeastern British Columbia and southwestern Alberta south through much of the western United States, east to southeast Wyoming, western Colorado, and north and west New Mexico. A diurnal rodent, it feeds primarily on seeds, nuts and friuts, suplemented with vegetation and insects. They are also known to eat large quantities of subterranean fungi which they locate by smell. This squirrel hibernates from about October to May.
This squirrel is often confused with chipmunks but it may be distinguished from the smaller rodents by the stripes on the chipmunks' head, reaching to the nose.

Photographic notes:

Leicaflex SL, 400mm f/6.8 Telyt-R, Kodachrome 25. Combining a shoulder stock and monopod made following the squirrel much easier than if I had used a tripod, while providing good steadiness for sharp pictures. Photographed at Wrights Lake California.

Leica R8/DMR, 400mm f/6.8 Telyt-R. Photographed in Warner Valley, Lassen Volcanic National Park California.

Leica R8/DMR, 280mm f/4 APO-Telyt-R. Photographed in Warner Valley, Lassen Volcanic National Park California.