Harris's antelope ground squirrel

[Eric Gofreed]

This Harris’s Antelope Squirrel made herself right at home on a prickly pear in my yard, casually munching the fresh new paddle like it was the daily special. Spines? No problem. She held each bite delicately in her paws, savoring her cactus cuisine.

The very first thing I tell visitors is, "Never back up in the desert."

In the desert, don’t dare take a backward glance —
You'll get cactus spines in your underpants.

 

[AlanLichty]

Prickly pears must be one of the most munched on cacti in the Sonoran deserts. It's almost hard to find a pristine specimen. Cute squirrel.

The very first thing I tell visitors is, "Never back up in the desert."
In the desert, don’t dare take a backward glance —
You'll get cactus spines in your underpants.

Lessons I wish I had learned as a child when trying to extricate myself from a patch of teddy bear cholla

 

[Trent Watts]

Nice reminder Eric. I once went for a walk in Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan. The leader had a vial of Rattlesnake antivenom and a pair of tweezers. She said in all the years she had been taking people out she had never used the antivenom but many times needed the tweezers to pull Prickly Pear spines out of people's butts after they sad down for a rest. So backing up and sitting down need your attention I guess. Great shot of the ground squirrel.