Arctic Ground Squirrel: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Squirrels and Marmots · day 3 of 7

Five facts

1. No other squirrel lives as far north. It ranges across the Arctic tundra of North America and Asia.
2. In its winter sleep, its body can cool to −2.9 °C, colder than any other hibernating mammal. Only its brain stays just above freezing.
3. How does its blood not freeze? Scientists study its trick in the hope it could one day help keep human organs for transplants.
4. It has an alarm for each danger: a three-note chatter for a predator on the ground, a single falling whistle for one in the sky.
5. These busy diggers can shift as much as 18 tonnes of earth per hectare in a year, letting air in and bringing nutrients up.

The quiz

1. What record does the Arctic ground squirrel hold among squirrels?

• It is the fastest runner
• It lives the farthest north (correct)
• It has the longest tail
• It lives the farthest south

Its range reaches farther north than any other squirrel's.

2. How cold can its body get during hibernation?

• About 30 °C
• About 20 °C
• About 10 °C
• About −2.9 °C (correct)

Its core can drop to −2.9 °C, colder than any other hibernating mammal.

3. Why do scientists study how this squirrel avoids freezing?

• To grow bigger crops
• To make warmer coats
• To better preserve human organs for transplant (correct)
• To build stronger houses

They hope its trick could help preserve human organs for transplant.

4. What alarm does it give when a predator approaches from the sky?

• A single descending whistle (correct)
• A three-note chatter
• Loud foot drumming
• Total silence

A bird of prey draws one falling whistle; the three-note chatter is for ground predators.

5. How much earth can these squirrels dig up per hectare each year?

• Up to 18 kilograms
• Up to 18 tonnes (correct)
• Up to 1 kilogram
• None, they never dig

They are reported to shift as much as 18 tonnes of earth per hectare in a year.

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