> Ground squirrels can grow to be a foot long, not too much smaller
> than prairie dogs, and they look more like them in my estimation
> than do Aplodontia or hoary marmots.
>
> Spermophilus lateralis and Spermophilus saturatus are the two
> candidates; a possible mitigating factor is that both species
> have longitudinal striping, which is rather pronounced in the
> case of lateralis.
>
> If your critter was definitely not striped, then you can probably
> rule out ground squirrel, but it's something to consider.

Good suggestions. The description sounded more like a ground squirrel than anything else
to me. Between Lake Stevens and Arlington, though, is too low in elevation to expect
to see either of the mountain-dwelling ground squirrels or the Hoary Marmot. So, it's a
puzzler. I ruled out Mountain Beaver because of the mention of a tail.

Kelly McAllister
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Olympia, Washington