Spotted ground squirrel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spotted ground squirrel |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Xerospermophilus
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| Species: |
spilosoma
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| Synonyms | |
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Spermophilus spilosoma Bennet, 1833 |
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The spotted ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus spilosoma) is a small type of ground squirrel. It belongs to the rodent family called Sciuridae, which includes squirrels, chipmunks, and marmots. You can find these squirrels in Mexico and across the central and western United States.
These squirrels are easy to spot because of the white spots on their backs. They are also one of the smallest squirrels living in North America. Spotted ground squirrels mostly eat plants, but they also enjoy insects. They are great at digging, making tunnels for storing food, finding shelter, and sleeping through the winter (called hibernation).
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What Does a Spotted Ground Squirrel Look Like?
The spotted ground squirrel is one of the smallest squirrels in the northern part of the world. It has many white spots in lines along its back. Its belly is white. The rest of its fur can be different shades of brown, black, gray, and white.
These squirrels change their fur twice a year. When adults wake up from hibernation, their fur is usually thicker. They shed this fur in the spring. Young squirrels often have darker fur than adult squirrels. The color of their fur can also change depending on where they live. For example, squirrels living in areas with rich soil tend to have darker fur than those living in grasslands.
Where Do Spotted Ground Squirrels Live?
You can find the spotted ground squirrel in many places. They live from south-central South Dakota down through Nebraska, especially in the sand hills there. They are also found in eastern Colorado, northwestern Oklahoma, western Texas, eastern Arizona, western Kansas, most of New Mexico, and southeastern Utah. In Mexico, they live in the south and central parts of the country.
These squirrels usually live in places with deep, sandy soil and not many plants. This includes sand hills and dunes, where they dig their homes. They have even been found living in old burrows dug by prairie dogs. Spotted ground squirrel burrows are often found on grassy flat areas or along riverbanks. They prefer lighter, loose soil for digging, which is why they live in dry, desert-like areas.
What Do Spotted Ground Squirrels Eat?
The spotted ground squirrel is mainly a herbivore, which means it eats plants. They eat seeds and green parts of plants. In the spring, they munch on fresh green grass shoots. Later in the summer, they eat the flowers and seeds of other green plants.
Sometimes, especially in late summer, the spotted ground squirrel also acts like an Insectivore. This means they eat insects, mostly young Grasshoppers.
How Do Spotted Ground Squirrels Behave?
Spotted ground squirrels spend a lot of time underground because they are burrowing animals and hibernate. However, when they are above ground, they spend most of their time looking for food. The rest of their time is spent warning others about danger, or doing things like resting, sunbathing, and grooming themselves.
During their mating season, male squirrels go in and out of their burrows a lot. This is probably a way they try to attract a mate. Spotted ground squirrels have 7 different ways they stand to warn other squirrels about predators nearby. They also use these postures to claim their territory from other males during mating season.
Hibernation for these squirrels usually starts in late July and lasts all the way until April or May. This means they are active above ground from April or May through July or August. Males are active for about 115 to 135 days, and females are active for about 95 to 125 days each year.
