If startled the squirrel will dart for its own hole even if another entrance is closer. Thirteen lined ground squirrel next to its burrow.
The thirteen lined ground squirrel ictidomys tridecemlineatus also known as the striped gopher leopard ground squirrel squinney formerly known as the leopard spermophile in the age of audubon is a ground squirrel that is widely distributed over grasslands and prairies of north america.
13 lined ground squirrel holes. Observe whether the hole seems to be one in a collection of holes or whether it is solitary. Most ground squirrels live in a colony in which several animals will occupy the same system of burrows. These particular rodents share a tribe known as marmotini.
Read on to learn about the ground squirrel. Finally ground squirrel holes under structures can erode away the soil causing issues with foundations. A ground squirrel is any of several rodents in the sciuridae or squirrel family.
One litter of seven to ten young is usually produced in may each year. The thirteen lined ground squirrel is a small slender ground squirrel with 13 alternating light and dark stripes running along the back and sides from head to rump. Finding a ground squirrel hole in the yard is an excellent indication that an infestation is present.
Thirteen lined ground squirrel ictidomys tridecemlineatus resting on some dried leaves and grass. This small and slender ground squirrel also known as the thirteen liner has 13 stripes running along the length of its body. The thirteen lined ground squirrel is probably the most mis identified ground squirrel often mistaken for chipmunk and gophers.
Since their tunnel and. It resides throughout most of the great plain states all the way from texas to pennsylvania to canada. The young leave the burrows at six weeks of age.
The background color is tan or brown and the belly is white. This color pattern helps them blend into the landscape thereby providing some protection from predators. All of the members of marmotini spend much of their lives on the ground rather than in trees.
The dark brown stripes are wider than the tan ones and have rectangular tan spots along the middle and are either seven wider dark brown stripes alternating with tan or seven narrow tan stripes. Willowbrook wildlife center thirteen lined ground squirrel burrow holes are about 2 inches wide with multiple holes distributed throughout the area. Each animal will have its own entrance hole however.
The light stripes are yellowish to white and the dark ones are blackish to reddish brown broken by a series of light spots. Thirteen lined ground squirrels as their name suggests have 13 light stripes with rows of light spots that run the length of their backs figure 1. Other signs of damage can include gnawed irrigation lines crop damage and tree girdling.
Thirteen lined ground squirrels emerge from hibernation in late march or early april. Thirteen lined ground squirrels are usually about 11 inches long including a 5 to 6 inch tail.