thirteen-lined ground squirrel

LC - Least Concern

N5 - Secure

SNR - Unranked

not listed

Thirteen-lined ground squirrel is a slender, light brown or dark brown ground squirrel. It averages 9¾″ long including the tail.

The ears are short.

There are 13 alternating lines of dark brown and tan lines that extend from the nape of the neck to the tail. The 13 stripes may be either 7 broad dark brown and 6 thin tan stripes or 7 narrow yellow and 6 broader dark brown stripes. There are no stripes on the side of the face. The belly is whitish.

The tail is thin and sparsely bushy.

Head and body: 4½″ to 6½″

Tail: 2½″ to 5¼″

Franklin’s ground squirrel (Spermophilus franklinii) is much larger, the head and body 9″ to 10″. It does not have stripes on the back or rump. The belly is nearly as dark as the back.

Richardson’s ground squirrel (Spermophilus richardsonii) is much larger, the head and body 7¾″ to 9½″. It does not have stripes on the back or rump. It is found only in far western Minnesota.

Grasslands, cultivated fields, meadows, roadsides, shrublands, suburban lawns, pine barrens, and beaches. Sandy or loamy soil.

Adults live for a few years. Only about 10% of young reach adulthood.

Omnivorous. They eat seeds, fruits, grasses, forbs, and insects.

Sources

7, 13, 15, 24, 29.

Common

This species was formerly included in the genus Spermophilus with about 40 other species. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies suggest that the genus should be split. In 2009 it genus was split into eight genera. Thirteen-lined ground squirrel is now the only species in the genus Ictidomys.

Near the bird feeders outside the Visitors’ Center

A Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel taking shelter under a slab of granite on the outcropping near a viewing area. In The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge in Lac qui Parle County.

I've had this ground squirrel in my yard for about 6 weeks or so. He has a hole right out my front door by the steps. I sit and watch him. Adorable

September 2018, Thirteen Lined Ground Squirrel, stopped by to eat peanuts that we throw on our patio for birds and critters. Had never seen one before or since.

Location: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge – Long Meadow Lake Unit

Near the bird feeders outside the Visitors’ Center

Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

A Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel taking shelter under a slab of granite on the outcropping near a viewing area. In The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge in Lac qui Parle County.

Location: St. Michael

If they would stop digging holes in our mulch beds & pine tree berms I’d probably think they were cute.

Location: Eau Claire, WI

I've had this ground squirrel in my yard for about 6 weeks or so. He has a hole right out my front door by the steps. I sit and watch him. Adorable

Location: Biwabik MN

Location: Maple Grove, MN

Thirteen Lined Ground Squirrel, stopped by to eat peanuts that we throw on our patio for birds and critters. Had never seen one before or since.