Family: Sciuridae, Squirrels view all from this family

Description A flecked, drab ground squirrel with a white-edged tail. Gray fur is washed with cinnamon buff above and pale buff or white below. Tail is bordered by white, and clay-colored or light brown below.

Dimensions 283-337mm, 65-88mm, 290-745g; / 264-318mm, 55-82mm, 120-590g

Similar Species Distinguished from the similar Belding’s and Uinta ground squirrels by having a brownish (not reddish or grayish) underside of the tail with a white edging.

Breeding Produces one litter per year. The young, up to 8 in a litter, are born in April or May. Young ground squirrels remain underground in the burrow until they are approximately 30 days old.

Habitat Grasslands & prairies

Range Plains, Rocky Mountains, Southwest, Western Canada

Discussion Churr and chip calls are lower pitched than in Wyoming Ground Squirrel. Hibernates from September to March.