GREAT HORNED OWL
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The Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus, is a large owl with very distinct ear tufts. They serve as valuable predators since they feed primarily on rodents and rabbits and therefore are extremely beneficial to the farmer and rancher.
MEXICAN GROUND SQUIRREL
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The Mexican Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus mexicanus, is a rather small ground squirrel that usually has nine rows of whitish spots on the back. They are quite common throughout the southwestern part of Texas. They feed primarily on plants such as mesquite leaves and beans, agarita leaves and berries and at certain times include insects in their diet. They live in burrows and are rather unsocial to other ground squirrels. However they are an amusing creature to watch since they do not seem to be particularly bothered by the presence of humans. Perhaps they know that with the human around that it is one of the few times that they do not need to worry about becoming dinner for a coyote, bobcat or red-tailed hawk.



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