Favoritos de loarie

iNaturalist first two automated suggestions are 1) Botta's and 2) domestic Guinea Pig. Hybrid?? 😵‍💫🫠

I've seen pocket gophers before but they were always gray/brown matching their surroundings. The contrasting colors on this one seem likely to attract predators.

Not sure if Botta's (iNaturalist choice) or Southern (my guess based on very dark wide back stripe and dark patch behind the ear) - but very much open to other's suggestions.

American Museum Southwestern Research Station

What an incredible encounter! I was just past Panorama Point, searching for White-tailed Ptarmigan when I turned around and saw it running up the snow towards me. It stopped and stared at me for a minute, before bouncing up the snow and continuing up the ridge following before going up and over the ridge and out of view. I got some great photos and took a few videos as well. Quite a surreal experience.