Ground squirrels (also known as Earth dogs) are rodents of the squirrel family (Sciuridae) that generally live on the ground or in burrows, rather than in trees like the tree squirrels. With enough patience and lurking, the photographer can get quite close to the hole in which the ground squirrels are hiding, after which they, having calmed down enough that the threat has passed, can emerge from their hole. Once out of their burrow, ground squirrels can either feed or explore the nearby environment, but in either case, they are quite interesting and entertaining enough to observe and/or photograph.
It is, of course, a good idea for the photographer to have turned on the silent mode of their camera beforehand so as not to scare them unnecessarily. Squirrels can become so accustomed to the photographer that they may venture into the lens hood out of curiosity, and even need to be slightly startled to move out of the area where the lens cannot focus. An interesting aspect of their behaviour is that they remember the last hole they inhabited and, in case of danger, try to reach it, even though the source of the threat may be much closer to the hole than the squirrel, making them both predictable and easy prey.
