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Cascade Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Spermophilus saturatus
The Cascade Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus saturatus) is closely related to the Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (S. lateralis), but is of a more limited distribution of the Cascade Mountains of Washington and British Columbia. The ranges of the two species do not overlap. The stripes on its body are often less distinct than those of the "regular" Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel. The individual in the 5 images shown here was on Johnston Ridge, Mount St. Helens National Monument, Skamania Co., Washington, in August, 2008. These shots were taken with a canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 500mm F/4 L IS lens.