Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis)

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Photograph by James Phelps . Some rights reserved. (view image details)

Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel
Photograph by James Phelps . Some rights reserved. (view image details)

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel at Jasper National Park, Alberta.
Photograph by Ian (placid casual). Some rights reserved. (view image details)

GOLDEN-MANTLED GROUND SQUIRREL FACTS

Description
The Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel has a golden-red mantle that from the head down over their shoulders. There is a white stripe, bordered by black running along each side of the body. It has a white eye ring. The back is gray, brown or buff, and the underside is whitish or yellowish-gray. The tail is dark brown above and reddish brown underneath. The winter fur is grayer and the mantle is not so brightly colored.

Size
Length: 23cm - 30cm. Mass: 120g - 400g.

Environment
mixed coniferous forests, meadows, rocky slopes, chaparral in southern California. Also common around camp grounds.

Food
The Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel is omnivorous. Their main food is pine nuts, but they also eat fungi, other nuts, acorns, seeds, leaves, flowers, bulbs, fruit, insects, birds and eggs, voles, lizards, carrion.

Breeding
Two to eight (average five) young are born after a gestation period of 26 - 33 days. The young are born naked and blind. The minimum time for weaning is at least 29 days.

Range
south east British Colombia and south west Alberta, western United States to Colorado, New Mexico and southern California

Classification

Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Sciuridae
Genus:	Spermophilus
Species:	lateralis
Common Name:	Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

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