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 Columbian Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus columbianus)

Columbian Ground Squirrel | Spermophilus columbianus photo
Columbian Ground Squirrel, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
Photograph copyright: Ashley Hockenberry - all rights reserved. Used with permission.  (view image details)




Columbian Ground Squirrel | Spermophilus columbianus photo
Columbian Ground Squirrel
Photograph copyright: Ashley Hockenberry - all rights reserved. Used with permission.  (view image details)





COLUMBIAN GROUND SQUIRREL FACTS
Description
The Columbian Ground Squirrel is a stout squirrel with short, dense fur. The nose and face are reddish brown, and there may be some reddish brown around the legs. The back is pale brown with darker brown underfur, and sometimes has some white flecks. The eyes are have a pale buff colored ring round them. The underside is pale brown and the tail is black.

Size
Total length: 32cm - 41c. Tail length 8cm - 11cm.

Environment
alpine meadows, sub-alpine meadows.

Food
roots, bulbs, stems, flowers, seeds, also some insects

Breeding
average litter size is 3 young. The young are blind and have no hair when born. They have hair by 3 days and can walk and climb by 15 days

Range
found in the Rocky mountains west of Montana, Idaho, eastern Washington, central and eastern Oregon. In Canada they are found in south east British Columbia, western Alberta..

Classification
Class:Mammalia
Order:Rodentia
Family:Sciuridae
Genus:Spermophilus
Species:columbianus
Common Name:Columbian Ground Squirrel


Relatives in same Genus
  Uinta Ground Squirrel (S. armatus)
  California Ground Squirrel (S. beecheyi)
  Belding's Ground Squirrel (S. beldingi)
  Idaho Ground Squirrel (S. brunneus)
  Wyoming Ground Squirrel (S. elegans)
  Franklin's Ground Squirrel (S. franklinii)
  Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (S. lateralis)
  Arctic Ground Squirrel (S. parryii)
  Richardson's Ground Squirrel (S. richardsonii)
  Spotted Ground Squirrel (S. spilosoma)
  Round-tailed Ground Squirrel (S. tereticaudus)
  Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel (S. tridecemlineatus)
  Rock Squirrel (S. variegatus)







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