Identify this varmit

[dogstyler]

I thought I knew all the furry creatures in Mn but I need an id on this critter.

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[Joe]

Well, it looks like a grey squirrel to me.

[dogstyler]

Yea, the pictures not the best. I think he lives underground.

[Joe]

Looks an awfull lot like this critter.


Prairie Dog

[PUTZ]

By gum it's A tree rat.
PUTZ

[shakey legs 2]

It sure looks like a gray marmot to me.

[WoodChuck]

not sure, but it looks like a ground squirrel i had liveing behind the barn in aitkin. ????

[jigglestick]

I would have to say it's a fox squirrel. we used to shoot them at gramdpas farm south of albany MN when i was a kid.
not to common here in northern MN, but more so in the central part of the state, in farm country.
they have a redish tint to their coat, and they are noticeably larger than their cousin, the grey squirrel.

but i have been wrong before

[dogstyler]

WTF is a gray marmot.  good guess though

[dogstyler]

good stab jiggle. sorry batgirl

[shakey legs 2]

A gray marmot is in the ground hog/woodchuck family

[Fawkinnae]

Wait a minute. I'm a little confused. Has this been identified as a gray marmot - because I don't think that's what it is? Marmots are huge.

[jigglestick]

good stab jiggle. sorry batgirl

what does good stab mean, and who is batgirl?

[Joe]

Although the coloring would lead me to believe it's a squirrel, the ears make it a bit confusing. I'm sticking with prairie dog.

[jigglestick]

look at the tail.

[Joe]

Maybe it's some sort of hybrid.  :P I see what you mean. Maybe the picture just doesn't show the ear very well.

[WoodChuck]

from another site,? Maybe it,s a hill side gouger or a jackpine savage just as a wild GUESS ????

[Fawkinnae]

You guys are killing me. Griz has me on a short leash but I may have to weigh in soon.

[GRIZ]

 I'll throw a guess otu there is it a grey gopher? Might also be know as a grey ground squirrel.

[Joe]

So does someone know, without a doubt, what this critter is?

[Fawkinnae]

It is most definitely a ground squirrel. The variety I'm not quite sure but the name that comes to mind is Richardson Ground Squirrel. Although I'm not sure if Richardson is a Minnesota species. Wait one minute and I will know for sure.

Hmmm. I'm back. Turns out the Richardson Ground squirrel is found in northwestern Minnesota along the North Dakota border. However there is a Franklin ground squirrel (mentioned by David Stelter by the way) that is found through most of Minnesota  (not found in the arrowhead).  So it's one of those two. Unfortunately my book doesn't have a picture of the Richardson but the Franklin looks like it's probably the guy. This is interesting, another name for the Franklin ground squirrel is - Gray Gopher - Griz knocks another one into the seats.

[jigglestick]

rat bastard!
no that wasn't my guess :D

[GRIZ]

Well it was an easy guess. You see the friday b4 the post, at work one happened in the way of the 25 ton scraper that I was running. Turned out to be a very flat grey gopher. When I was a kid they used to have a $.25 bounty on they

[Fawkinnae]

... and flattens his little gopher... tail.