Franklin's Ground Squirrel (Poliocitellus franklinii) lives in grassland prairies across North America. It feeds on grass and seeds. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Franklin's Ground Squirrel
- Franklin's ground squirrel is the sole living representative of the genus Poliocitellus, meaning no other squirrel shares its exact taxonomic group. It was originally placed in the large ground-squirrel genus Spermophilus, but DNA sequencing of the cytochrome b gene showed that group was paraphyletic, prompting its reclassification into its own genus.
- The species hibernates from about August to April, remaining underground for the bulk of the winter months. The timing varies among individuals, with males typically entering hibernation earlier than females and adult squirrels retiring before the young-of-the-year, which need extra time to accumulate fat reserves.
- Franklin's ground squirrel is omnivorous, feeding mainly on vegetation in the spring and late summer but adding meat and eggs to its diet in early summer. Plant foods shift from roots, new shoots and grasses to leaves, flowers, fruit and seeds as the seasons progress, while animal prey can include insects, eggs, small rodents, fish, frogs and even larger vertebrates.
- Male Franklin's ground squirrels in North Dakota typically patrol an area of about 24 hectares, while females occupy roughly 9 hectares, showing a clear size difference between the sexes. Their territories can overlap, yet each burrow usually shelters only one or two individuals during the active spring and summer months.
- Franklin's ground squirrels possess three large anal scent glands, one positioned above the anus and one on each side, that emit a musky scent during the breeding season. In addition to these, smaller glands at the corners of the mouth are used when individuals greet one another, while a series of glands running from the shoulders to the pelvis likely help mark their burrow entrances.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
At a glance
RangeNorth America
HabitatGrassland prairies
DietGrass and seeds
About the Franklin's Ground Squirrel
In the sun-drenched prairies of North America, the Franklin's Ground Squirrel darts through the tapestry of wildflowers with an air of unbridled joy, its rust-hued fur glistening like burnished copper as it weaves between the tall grasses. With an irrepressible spark in its bright, inquisitive eyes, this diminutive creature embodies the very essence of its landscape, its nimble form a perfect reflection of the unfettered freedom that defines its windswept world. As it burrows into the earth with a soft, scratching intensity, the Franklin's Ground Squirrel reveals itself to be a master of its underground realm, a secretive and resourceful inhabitant of the hidden places that lie just beneath our feet.
Hear the Franklin's Ground Squirrel, and 4,400+ more
Real recorded sounds, 11 nature games and a free Daily 5, 1v1 quiz duels, conservation wins and a safe Kids mode. Free on Feravox.
