Species: Spermophilus columbianus
Columbian Ground Squirrel
Species
Show on Lists
Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Craniata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Rodentia
Family
Sciuridae
Genus
Spermophilus
NatureServe
Classification
Other Global Common Names
spermophile du Columbia
Informal Taxonomy
Animals, Vertebrates - Mammals - Rodents
Formal Taxonomy
Animalia - Craniata - Mammalia - Rodentia - Sciuridae - Spermophilus - (MacNeil and Strobeck 1987).
Ecology and Life History
Migration
true - false - false
Non-migrant
true
Locally Migrant
false
Food Comments
Feeds on a wide variety of vegetation: roots, bulbs, stems, leaves, seeds, and berries. Also eats some animal food (e.g., insects, mice, dead fish). May climb into trees and shrubs to obtain buds and fruits.
Reproduction Comments
Mating occurs soon after females emerge from hibernation. Gestation lasts 24 days. Litter of 2-7 (average 2-4) altricial young is born May-late June. Nursing period usually lasts about 30 days. Sexually mature in 1-2 years; 22-33% survive to maturity (Zammuto and Millar 1985). In southwestern Alberta, reproductive success of females ranged from 0 to 19 yearlings produced over a lifetime (King et al. 1991).
Ecology Comments
Colonial. Population density of 32-35/ha was reported for central Idaho and Alberta; 25-62/ha on agricultural lands in Washington; density generally is uneven over large areas (see Elliot and Flinders 1991). See Festa-Bianchet and King (1991) for information on survivorship and reproduction during population increases and decreases in Alberta. In southwestern Alberta, intercolony dispersal was mainly by yearling males; usually dispersed less than 4 km but up to 8.5 km (Wiggett and Boag 1989). Average home range of adult male was about 0.4 ha, of adult female about 0.1 ha. Adult males defend (primarily during breeding season) core areas within home range. Adult females defend territory near nest burrow; exhibit strong site fidelity. Reservoir for Rocky Mountain spotted fever and bubonic plague. Prey for various carnivores and diurnal raptors. Populations can withstand heavy predation without declining (Murie, 1992, J. Mamm. 73:385-394).
Length
41
Weight
812
Conservation Status
NatureServe Global Status Rank
G5
Global Status Last Reviewed
1996-11-06
Global Status Last Changed
1996-11-06
Other Status
LC - Least concern
Distribution
Conservation Status Map
<img src="http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/GetMapGif?CA.AB=S5&CA.BC=S5&US.ID=S5&US.MT=S5&US.OR=S4&US.WA=S5" alt="Conservation Status Map" style="width: 475px; height: auto;" />
Global Range
Central Rocky Mountains in North America, from southeastern British Columbia and southwestern Alberta, Canada, south through northern and eastern Washington, northeastern Oregon, northern and central Idaho and western Montana in the U.S. Elevational range mainly 700-8000 ft.