By Rick LoBello, Board Member
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In many El Paso neighborhoods people at this time of year are hearing the vocalizations of rock squirrels and mistaking them for birds. Rock squirrels are fairly common in El Paso and during the first part of the morning they will call out to other squirrels to warn of predators like foxes and hawks. They will also vocalize to defend their territories and for a variety of other reasons, like telling other squirrels to stay away from food sources they have found. The other day I recorded one calling near my house that you can listen to here.
The rock squirrel is one of the Chihuahuan Desert’s many species of rodents. It is a large dark-gray or blackish squirrel with a bushy black tail. It seeks refuge and makes its den in rocky outcrop areas. Watch for them when hiking along the Cottonwood Springs Trail at Tom May’s Park. When you see them most of the time they are foraging for food while keeping a sharp eye out for predators like the Red-tailed Hawk.
The rock squirrel feeds on a variety of plants including pine nuts, juniper berries, mesquite beans, prickly-pear cactus, and century plants; occasionally they will also capture insects for food. Unlike their close cousin the gray squirrel, rock squirrels are larger and live in burrows instead of trees. Some people consider them pests because they will get into gardens and sometimes burrow under houses.
Next time you visit the Zoo watch for them in rocky areas including the artificial rocks inside some of the large animal exhibits.
I have always loved squirrels and am so glad that years ago I started paying attention to all the sounds of the desert. Next time you hear something approach slowly and figure out what you are hearing. You will be surprised sometimes. What sounds like a bird calling is often a squirrel, what sounds like a mountain lion screaming is most often a gray fox. Your love for the desert will grow over time as you get to know the natural world around you and soon you will find yourself becoming more of a defender of nature than you were in the past.
Photo Credits
Cover – Cherry Bream, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Top – Paulann Egelhoff, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Middle – Skip Russell, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Bottom – Carla Kishinami, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition 