Emotional Range: A Photographic Portfolio of a Round Tailed Ground Squirrel Family

Several years back, when moved out to the base of the Superstition Mountains in Arizona, I noticed a Round-tailed Ground Squirrel family.
I decided to photograph them, hoping to show that these animals think, feel and have emotions too. Often people think that dogs and cats are the only animals that have feelings. Could it be that people think this because observation is easier with a pet?

My hope is that through photography I can show all animals think and feel emotion. With this understanding, love and respect is developed for the natural world. Conservation is the natural effect of this endearment. This is a paradigm shift in thought – that conservation can begin early, at a ground level – with each person awakening to the natural world. With this realization, comes animal respect, conservation and welfare.

Below is a description of each shot in the portfolio.  

1. Love – A mother Round-Tailed Ground Squirrel (not a prairie dog!) emerges from the earth with her babies. She comes up alone, about 45 minutes earlier, to make sure the area is clear of  predators.  
2. Fear and Need – This young one reaches for Mom after being frightened by the fast movements of a rabbit. This was the smallest of the babies and she stayed close to Mom whilst the other siblings played tirelessly.  
3. Feather Meditation – Appreciation. A baby discovers the softness of a feather and begins to rub it all over its face. I feel I captured a wonderful moment of discovery and appreciation.  
4. Feel good stretch – Squirrel Yoga. Mom wakes up early everyday and takes a stretch. Just like humans.  
5. Confession of a Food Thief. Accusations were made and there was shame over a stolen tidbit. This is easy to see in dogs… However, this also happens within other species.
6. Space – Dad knows instinctively to give room to the Mom and babies. He climbs and eats Creosote flowers and seeds. This is the natural food source for these animals. They have a mutual relationship… The squirrels aerate the soil for monsoon rains and propagate plants by spreading seeds.
7. Care – In the midday desert heat, a mother carries her sick  baby to a cool, shady place. Will the baby survive? A good Mom cares about her children. 
8. Patience – Whilst Mother is with her sick one, the others wait patiently by their hole or just underground.
9. Joy – Childs play. Other babies play gently.
10. Intense – Some babies are intense in play and relentless.  More serious arguments begin in spring amongst males. 
11. Delicious surprise – It appears that creosote bark is delicious. A sister or brother might come along for a bite. 
12. Sentiment – A mother usually intervenes with some heavier play or arguments; however this time, Mom watches and lets them figure it out. The babies are growing up.