Columbian ground squirrel

Facts

IUCN LEAST CONCERN (LC)

Facts about this animal

The Columbian ground squirrel is a typical souslik. It is mostly grey; underparts are yellow-orange. It has a bushy tail which has a length of 8-12 cm. Total length is: 30-40 cm and it weights from 350 to 800 g (depending on season).

Columbian Ground Squirrels live in large colonies. Both males and females are territorial. Males defend a small core area within their home range, trying to keep other males from access to females. Females defend areas where their nest burrows are located. Both sexes mark their territories with scent glands located at the edge of the mouth, side of the head, and back.

Columbian ground squirrel hibernate for seven to eight months of the year (hibernation) and do not awake to eat stored food during their hibernation. The reproduction season is shortly after hibernation. After a gestation period of 24 days the female gives birth to, in May or June, to one litter of 2–7 young (average 3 or 4).

The Columbian Ground Squirrel eats a wide variety of food, including grasses, plant stems and leaves, seeds, bulbs and tubers, insects, birds and other small vertebrates. Especially when in large colonies, these squirrels sometimes damage grainfields.

Did you know?
that the Columbian Ground Squirrel feeds only for about 130 days a year? The rest of the year is spent in hibernation. The squirrel has to consume about 17 per cent of its body weight each day before going to sleep. Otherwise it wouldn't survive the winter.

Factsheet
Class	MAMMALIA
Order	RODENTIA
Suborder	SCIUROMORPHA
Family	SCIURIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Spermophilus columbianus
Name (English)	Columbian ground squirrel
Name (French)	Spermophile du Columbia
Name (German)	Columbia-Ziesel
Name (Spanish)	Ardilla de Columbia
CITES Status	Not listed
CMS Status	Not listed

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Jayjayp

Distribution

Distribution
Range	In parts of the Rocky Mountains: Canada (Alberta; British Columbia), USA (Idaho; Montana; Oregon; Washington)
Habitat	Alpine meadows and grasslands, from about 200 to 2400 m.
Wild population	Unknown, but not endangered. Some ranchers and farmers consider Columbian Ground Squirrels pests, and this has lead to their decline in some areas.
Zoo population	1 reported to ISIS (2007)

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 79 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

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Cash4alex

Why do zoos keep this animal

Being diurnal and social, the souslik is a good species for educational purposes and an ideal ambassador for its grassland habitat.

How this animal should be kept

Columbian ground squirrels are kept in outdoor enclosures. For up to 5 animals a minimum surface of 20 m² must be provided, and for each additional adult 2 m² more. Considering that ground squirrel colonies tend to grow, it is not advisable to designe the enclosure smaller than 40 m².

The bounds of the enclosure - half-moats, walls or glass panels - should be at least 1 m high and need deep foundations to avoid that the sousliks will dig their way out of the enclosure. If a boundary fence is used, the upper part should be covered with a ~30cm-wide sheet of metal.

Some protection from predatory birds - raptors or crows - may be necessary, e.g covering the enclosure on top with stretched wires.

The soil of the enclosure should be well drained, sandy and covered with grass. Suitable dens should be provided for sleeping, rearing of young and hibernating, or the animals should be allowed to dig their own burrows.

The diet consists primarily of green fodder, hay, and vegetables. In addition branches should be offered for wearing the teeth.

Columbian ground squirrels are suitable animals for walk-thru exhibits, and they can be kept in mixed exhibits e.g. together with ungulates such as pronghorn or bison, or in aviaries together with steppe or mountain birds, such as partridges or grouse.