Mammal · GBIF taxon 7994322
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
Ictidomys tridecemlineatusAlso known as Striped Gopher, Leopard Ground Squirrel, Squinny
Thirteen-lined ground squirrels sport a striking coat marked by alternating dark brown stripes and pale rows of light spots along their back. Active strictly during the day, they construct extensive underground burrow networks where they spend up to six months in profound winter hibernation. When alerted to potential danger, these solitary prairie rodents stand rigid and upright like wooden pegs before dropping into their burrows with a sharp trilling alarm call.
DiurnalBurrowingMammal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Grasshoppers
- Caterpillars
- Seeds
Predators
- Red-tailed Hawk
- American Badger
- Coyote
ThreatsHabitat loss, agricultural conversion, vehicle collisions, rodenticides
HabitatsPrairies, grasslands, pastures, lawns, golf courses
Life span3–5 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderRodentia
- FamilySciuridae
- GenusIctidomys
- SpeciesIctidomys tridecemlineatus
Native
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Capable of a sharp defensive bite if cornered; observe from a safe distance.
Responsible observation
- Location: Look for upright postures in mown lawns, golf courses, and native grasslands during sunny mid-day hours.
- Approach: Walk slowly and quietly without casting long shadows, which resemble avian predators to them.
- Observing: Watch from several meters away as they forage for seeds and insects before returning to their burrows.
Predator Yathin S Krishnappa / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Predator Buteo_jamaicensis_1.jpg: Alan Vernon derivative work: Berichard (talk) / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Prairie Relative (c) D. Sikes, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative no rights reserved · cc0
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Urban Dwellers
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