Ground Squirrel Ingenuity

I have just got back from the Lake District where I was amazed at how many signs there were stating that red squirrels were crossing the road, the signs were often accompanied by hazard markings.  I kept my eyes peeled for five days and did not see a single one, probably as it was raining and no self respecting squirrel would be seen in the rain, let alone near to an all singing, all dancing hazard sign.

This can not be said for the ground squirrel of Africa, which is a very cheeky chappie.  They are all singing and all dancing, well they have a high pitched whistle and can be pretty active during the cooler parts of the day.  Ground squirrels often live in colonies of up to 30 squirrels, living in a network of burrows under ground, which they often retreat to when it is hot.  The use of their tail is ingenious, it is used as an umbrella so that when these active creatures are out foraging for food they can have permanent shade.

Top that Mr Red Squirrel.