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The golden-mantled ground squirrel (''Callospermophilus lateralis'') is a
''Spermophilus lateralis''.
''In'': Wilson, D. E. & D. M. Reeder (Eds). 2005. ''Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference'' (3rd ed.), Johns Hopkins University Press. Some authors describe many subspecies of this taxon.''Callospermophilus lateralis''.
Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
This species occurs in forests, chaparral, meadow margins, and sagebrush, especially in areas with many rocks or forest litter that provides shelter. It is associated with many kinds of coniferous trees, 
This species hibernates over the winter. During the summers they gain extra weight in order to prepare for hibernation.
The squirrels hibernate in dens that can reach up to 100 feet in length although they are typically shallow in depth. The breeding season commences when males and females emerge from hibernation in the spring. Most broods are born in July. A female has two to eight young per litter, with an average of five. There is no paternal care of the offspring. Juveniles resemble adults by 40 days of age. The life span of this ground squirrel is up to about seven years.
Most adults are independent, rarely cooperating, and usually competing for resources. They may assemble at sites with abundant food but develop a group hierarchy. Adults reside alone in burrows, creating nests for hibernation or rearing of young. This species has been known to nest in structures, such as roofs. This species becomes vocal when it feels threatened, making squeaking noises or growling. However, it is generally not a very vocal species.
Predators of this squirrel include snakes, foxes, weasels, and bears. It may carry the Rocky Mountain wood tick, a vector of
''Callospermophilus lateralis''.
NatureServe Explorer V.7.1 Accessed 6 September 2017.
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel.
North American Mammals. Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. {{Taxonbar, from1=Q1334879, from2=Q21727451 Callospermophilus Fauna of the Northwestern United States Fauna of the Southwestern United States Mammals of Canada Mammals of the United States Fauna of the California chaparral and woodlands Fauna of the Great Basin Fauna of the Rocky Mountains Fauna of the Sierra Nevada (United States) Mammals described in 1823
ground squirrel
Ground squirrels are members of the squirrel family of rodents ( Sciuridae), which generally live on or in the ground, rather than trees. The term is most often used for the medium-sized ground squirrels, as the larger ones are more commonly known ...
native to western North America. It is distributed in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
and Alberta
Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...
, and through much of the western United States.
Description
This ground squirrel is generally about in length. The weight range for adults is between 120 and 394 grams (0.26 to 0.86 lbs.) It has whitish or yellow-gray underparts. The tail is brown to black with buff edges and a yellowish to reddish underside. It has pale rings around the eyes. The "mantle" across the shoulders is tawny to reddish, with males having a deeper reddish tinge. This species is distinguished from similar ground squirrels by a black-bordered white stripe down each side of the back and is distinguished from similar looking chipmunks by its lack of facial stripes.Bartels, M. A. and D. P. Thompson''Spermophilus lateralis''.
''In'': Wilson, D. E. & D. M. Reeder (Eds). 2005. ''Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference'' (3rd ed.), Johns Hopkins University Press. Some authors describe many subspecies of this taxon.''Callospermophilus lateralis''.
Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
Biology and ecology
This species occurs in forests, chaparral, meadow margins, and sagebrush, especially in areas with many rocks or forest litter that provides shelter. It is associated with many kinds of coniferous trees, aspen
Aspen is a common name for certain tree species; some, but not all, are classified by botanists in the section ''Populus'', of the '' Populus'' genus.
Species
These species are called aspens:
*'' Populus adenopoda'' – Chinese aspen (Chin ...
, and manzanita
Manzanita is a common name for many species of the genus ''Arctostaphylos''. They are evergreen shrubs or small trees present in the chaparral biome of western North America, where they occur from Southern British Columbia and Washington to Or ...
.
It is omnivorous
An omnivore () is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and animal matter, omnivores digest carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber, and metabolize the nut ...
, feeding on pine nut
Pine nuts, also called piñón (), pinoli (), pignoli or chilgoza (), are the edible seeds of pines (family Pinaceae, genus ''Pinus''). According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, only 29 species provide edible nuts, while 20 are trad ...
s, acorns, herbs and shrubs, fungi, many kinds of insects, eggs, young birds, lizards, carrion, and human foods when available. This species caches food near its burrow, especially during the late summer and fall. The squirrel has also been known to "beg" for human food at the wildlife urban interface.
This species hibernates over the winter. During the summers they gain extra weight in order to prepare for hibernation.
The squirrels hibernate in dens that can reach up to 100 feet in length although they are typically shallow in depth. The breeding season commences when males and females emerge from hibernation in the spring. Most broods are born in July. A female has two to eight young per litter, with an average of five. There is no paternal care of the offspring. Juveniles resemble adults by 40 days of age. The life span of this ground squirrel is up to about seven years.
Most adults are independent, rarely cooperating, and usually competing for resources. They may assemble at sites with abundant food but develop a group hierarchy. Adults reside alone in burrows, creating nests for hibernation or rearing of young. This species has been known to nest in structures, such as roofs. This species becomes vocal when it feels threatened, making squeaking noises or growling. However, it is generally not a very vocal species.
Predators of this squirrel include snakes, foxes, weasels, and bears. It may carry the Rocky Mountain wood tick, a vector of Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a bacterial disease spread by ticks. It typically begins with a fever and headache, which is followed a few days later with the development of a rash. The rash is generally made up of small spots of bleedin ...
and other diseases.
Conservation
This is a common and widespread species that is not considered to be threatened.References
External links
*NatureServe. 2017''Callospermophilus lateralis''.
NatureServe Explorer V.7.1 Accessed 6 September 2017.
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel.
North American Mammals. Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. {{Taxonbar, from1=Q1334879, from2=Q21727451 Callospermophilus Fauna of the Northwestern United States Fauna of the Southwestern United States Mammals of Canada Mammals of the United States Fauna of the California chaparral and woodlands Fauna of the Great Basin Fauna of the Rocky Mountains Fauna of the Sierra Nevada (United States) Mammals described in 1823