Golden-mantled ground squirrel, Crater Lake National Park, 2015.

Golden-mantled ground squirrels (Callospermophilus lateralis) are showing up in abundance as the snow is beginning to melt. This little guy is a resident of Wizard Island. The population there likely swam to the island or crossed the narrow Skell Channel when frozen over. Often confused with the chipmunk, differentiate the species by: chipmunks are usually smaller than squirrels, they live underground in burrows up to 30feet long while most squirrel species nest in trees and, perhaps most importantly, squirrels are far more likely to be called 'nuisance wildlife' due to their outgoing, boisterous and inquisitive nature.