Wildlife Wednesday: Squirrels! Burrowed In, Fluffed Out, and Watching You Snack
Wildlife Wednesday // June 4th, 2025
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This Week in the Wild
Wildlife Wednesday: California Ground Squirrels (and One Bold Guest)
We tend to think wildlife means rare or hard to find. But sometimes the most interesting animals are the ones judging you from three feet away. This week isn't about otters or seabirds. It's about squirrels. Not the tree-bouncing kind. The ones doing full-body pancake impressions on sand.
California Ground Squirrels
Most of this week's photos feature California ground squirrels. They're everywhere along the coast - hanging out by trails, parking lots, anywhere humans drop crumbs.
Spend five minutes watching and you'll see their whole routine. They flatten out like furry throw rugs (temperature control via splooting, apparently). They sprint between rocks like they're late for something important. Leaving? They’ll pop up on back legs to check if you're still there. Their faces? Weirdly expressive - just check out the photos below.
Some of them look... well, let's say "well-fed." There's a reason.
Why Feeding Wildlife Backfires
I know. They're cute. They do that thing where they sit up and hold food with their little hands. But here's what happens when we share:
They start treating humans like vending machines
They forget how to find actual squirrel food
Our snacks make them sick (and chubby)
Baby squirrels grow up thinking tourists = dinner
Basically, we're creating a generation of junk food addicts who've forgotten how to squirrel properly. Not great.
That One Fox Squirrel
Check the photos carefully and you'll spot the imposter: orange belly, sitting like it owns the place, definitely not a beach local. That's a fox squirrel from Marina del Rey’s Burton Chace Park . Different species, different vibe. Less "coastal survivor," more "suburban freeloader."
Leave with photos and all of your snacks.
They'll thank you by not following you to your car.
Gallery
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