In this shot, look how the squirrel keeps his body as flat to the ground as he can while out in the open to help avoid detection.
He's on alert, stretching as high as he can, to see as far as he can, to make sure it's OK to continue feeding.
Stuffing his face. At this rate, he'll need Weight Watchers.
Don
An update to what we were talking about earlier today.......
Going back to roughly the middle of December, Cassie began to stay at the den as she prepared herself for both adulthood and motherhood. Zeus, on the other hand, did likewise by taking up the task of doing all of the hunting-food providing.
Normally, female coyote estrus lasts 8-10 days from the first week of February to maybe as far as the middle of March depending upon when estrus actually begins. Seeing how early both coyotes started their adult transition, they mated earlier in late February.
Since mating has ended for this year, Zeus is at the end of his yearly spermatogenisis phase. What this means is that he will fully take on his role as an adult Alpha male and in the process, calm down a lot now that mating has ended. Expect to see him hunting alone as Cassie will not go far from the maternal (permanent) den. There may only be a few times that both are seen together but not in a hunting role and not far from the maternal den. Zeus will hunt alone until the pups are old enough to leave the den at six months. Until then, Cassie will leave the den to stretch her legs, get a little exercise, use their nearby coyote bathroom and help teach their young once they are old enough to leave the den.
Expect Zeus' hunting patterns to fall back into a normal cycle although he will hunt with more intensity now that his mate requires more food. And, once the pups are born in late May and as they start to wean off of Cassie's milk, Zeus will further his hunting intensity as he will have four mouths to feed (given that they produce a surviving two pup litter).
Now that Zeus has entered this phase of adulthood, he is less likely to attack humans as spermatogenisis is near its end. His focus will be mainly on supplying Cassie with enough food for her to manage pregnancy and to build her milk reserves. Zeus won't be as playful as he was by following people on trail and playing hide and seek. Although, he will be far more aggressive as an Alpha male to protect his turf as he will be a father before long. It is more important than ever that he defend his hunting area from competition as so not to deprive his family of food.
Further, I have seen a great deal of new grasses and other plants sufficient to sustain prey mammals within the PDWP complex through at least the end of the year. I do expect a fruitful, across the board, multiple-birthing season for all top three mammals - black tailed jackrabbit, California ground squirrel, and desert cottontail, not to mention the other smaller varieties.
Don Farnsworth
PDWP Wildlife Monitor
What this means is that if you get to the complex early enough or wait until just before sunset, you should have more than enough chance to get Zeus on film. Further, Californis quails are still out in abundance as are California ground squirrels. Black-tailed jacks are as bold as ever hunting well into the north section of the complex while their home range is located more towards the center of the complex. Desert cottontails are laying low. Coupled with new cottontail dens popping up, mainly in the north section, young males have grown to the point where they have left their maternal den, are on their own and breeding is taking place. With the abundance of food, we soon should be up to our armpits in both cottontails and ground squirrels which should go far in helping to produce a healthy coyote litter this year.
Don