Thirteen Lined Ground Squirrel

Eating Habits

• 50% of their diet is animal matter

• The other half of their diet contains fruits vegetables and other plant matter

• They rarely drink water

Living habits

• Diurnal

• Survey their territory

• Mating begins within two weeks after hibernation

• Young squirrels are sexually mature after 9-10 months

Identification

• slender rat-sized rodent that weighs about 8 ounces.

• 13 stripes run the length of its body

• color ranges from a light tan to a yellowish color

Range

• Southern Canada and through the Midwest, as well as parts of the eastern U.S.

• Hibernation is the way that animals adapt to the climate and land around them

• Certain animals must hibernate to live through extreme cold, or because food is limited in the winter time.

Hibernation

Thirteen lined ground squirrels hibernate in burrows below the frost line, which

is 20-40 inches deep.

Hibernation for the thirteen lined ground squirrel begins in September or early October.

The entrance to the burrow is plugged and inside lies a large nest.

Between late March and early May, thirteen lined ground squirrels will emerge from hibernation.

During Hibernation, body temperature remains at zero degrees Celsius. Normal body temperature is between eight and ten degrees Celsius.

Sources

• http://icwdm.org/handbook/rodents/13linedgroundsquirrel.asp

• http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312800/hibernate.htm

Any Questions?