Uinta Ground Squirrels are a becoming a common sight in Jackson Hole these days. They have awoken after nearly 7 months of hibernation and are running about looking for mates and establishing territories. I often tell folks that this little rodent is possibly the most important animal in the entire GYE, why? Because everything eats it. Red-tailed Hawks plan their nesting cycle around them, Coyote mothers enrich their milk with them, and weasels like the Badger survive on a diet of mostly Ground Squirrel. In fact, 80% of all Uinta Ground Squirrels die in their first year. Because of this they are always ready to run to their burrows at the first sign of danger and can often be seen standing lookout on top of Sagebrush ready to sound the alarm.