Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
(Ictidomys tridecemlineatus)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List
LC - Least Concern
NatureServe
N5 - Secure
SNR - Unranked
Minnesota
not listed
Description
Size
Sign
Similar Species
Habitat
Grasslands, cultivated fields, meadows, roadsides, shrublands, suburban lawns, pine barrens, and beaches. Sandy or loamy soil.
Ecology
Behavior
Lifespan
Adults live for a few years. Only about 10% of young reach adulthood.
Life Cycle
Food
Omnivorous. They eat seeds, fruits, grasses, forbs, and insects.
Distribution |
||
|
Sources Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 12/19/2025). Timm, R. M. 1975. Distribution, natural history, and parasites of mammals of Cook County, Minnesota. Occasional Papers, Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota 14:1–56. Hazard, Evan B. 1982. The Mammals of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 280 pp. The counties in light green lack modern records but have historic county or township specimens or records. |
|
| 12/19/2025 | ||
Occurrence |
||
Common |
||
Taxonomy
Class
Subclass
Theria
Infraclass
Placentalia (Placental Mammals)
Magnorder
Boreoeutheria
Superorder
Euarchontoglires (Primates, Rodents, and Allies)
Order
Rodentia (Rodents)
Suborder
Sciuromorpha (Squirrels, Dormice, and Mountain Beavers)
Family
Sciuridae (Squirrels)
Subfamily
Xerinae (Ground and African Tree Squirrels)
Tribe
Marmotini (Holarctic Ground Squirrels)
Genus
Ictidomys (Lined Ground Squirrels)
Genus
This species was formerly included in the genus Spermophilus with about 40 other species. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies suggested that the genus should be split. In 2009 it genus was split into eight genera. Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel is now one of three species in the genus Ictidomys.
Subordinate Taxa
Allen’s Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus alleni)
Black Hills Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus olivaceous)
Blanca Thirteen-striped Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus blanca)
Hollister Striped Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus hollisteri)
Howell Striped Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus arenicola)
Pale Striped Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus pallidus)
Small Striped Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus parvus)
Texas Striped Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus texensis)
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus tridecemlineatus) 
White Mountains Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus monticola)
Synonyms
Sciurus tridecemlineatus
Spermophilus tridecemlineatus
Common Names
Leopard Ground Squirrel
Squinney
Striped Gopher
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
Visitor Photos
Share your photo of this mammal.
This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption.
Jo McEwen |
||
We have a husband and wife living under the front porch area in my garden! |
||
 |
 |
|
Just saw our very first 13 lined squirrel. |
||
 |
|
|
Kirk Nelson |
 |
Near the bird feeders outside the Visitors’ Center |
Lynn Rubey |
||
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. |
||
 |
|
|
Cindy Kuba |
 |
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 |
Norm & Peg Dibble |
 |
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. |
Christa Rittberg |
||
|
 |
|
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
|
Slideshows
Spermophilus tridecemlineatus (Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel)
Allen Chartier
Visitor Videos
Share your video of this mammal.
This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link.
Other Videos
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel (Sciuridae: Ictidomys/Spermophilus tridecemlineatus) Alarm Call
Carl Barrentine
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel (Sciuridae: Ictidomys/Spermophilus tridecemlineatus) Alert Posture
Carl Barrentine
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus)
Stoil Ivanov
Prairie Life: Gourmet Meal
Carl Barrentine
Visitor Sightings
Report a sighting of this mammal.
This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.
Jo McEwen
8/25/2024
Location: Babbitt, MN
We have a husband and wife living under the front porch area in my garden!
Jo McEwen
7/27/2024
Location: Babbitt, MN
Just saw our very first 13 lined squirrel. Will get a pic if I can!
Kirk Nelson
6/7/2020
Location: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge – Long Meadow Lake Unit
Near the bird feeders outside the Visitors’ Center
Lynn Rubey
6/19/2020
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.
Tracy
summer 2019
Location: St. Michael
If they would stop digging holes in our mulch beds & pine tree berms I’d probably think they were cute.
Cindy Kuba
7/24/2019
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
Dave
6/17/2019
Location: Biwabik MN
Norm & Peg Dibble
September 2018
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.
