Arctic ground squirrel
The Arctic ground squirrel is a small rodent native to the cold regions of Alaska, Canada, and Siberia. Characterized by their yellowish or reddish-brown coats, these squirrels typically measure between 8.5 and 10 inches long and weigh from 3.5 to 26.5 ounces. They undergo a hibernation period lasting about seven months each year, during which they sleep and conserve energy. The remaining five months are spent foraging for food, gaining weight, and caring for their young in colonies that can range from five to 50 members.
Arctic ground squirrels are omnivorous, consuming a diverse diet that includes plants, roots, seeds, and even small animals. They face predation from various wildlife, including foxes, wolves, and birds of prey. During mating season in April, females give birth to pups in June, who must quickly prepare for the approaching winter. Despite having a relatively high mortality rate among young, these squirrels can live for eight to ten years and typically reach reproductive maturity by their first year. While they face threats from natural predators and the harsh environment, Arctic ground squirrels are not considered a threatened species.
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Arctic ground squirrel
In some of the coldest parts of Alaska, Arctic ground squirrels hibernate, sleep, for about seven months of the year. During the other five months they work about 17 hours a day in cold rain and strong winds. They have to gain weight, store food, and raise a family before winter returns. Arctic squirrels can be found in the northernmost regions of North America and Siberia.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Urocitellus
Species: Parryii
Arctic ground squirrels have yellowish or reddish-brown coats with some lighter hair. They have long, thin bodies after hibernation and gain weight throughout the summer for the following winter's hibernation. They also have cheek pouches that they use for taking food to the den. Arctic ground squirrels also have whiskers that help them find their way around. Arctic ground squirrels are between 8 1/2 and 10 inches (21 1/2 to 25 centimeters) long and weigh between 3 1/2 and 26 1/2 ounces (100 and 750 grams).
Arctic ground squirrels live in the very cold areas of Alaska, Canada, and Siberia where the ground is frozen for many months of the year. They usually live in colonies of between five and 50 squirrels in a burrow under the ground. Arctic squirrels are omnivores or meat and plant-eating animals. In the summer they feed on plants, roots, grasses, seeds, leaves, stems, flowers, berries, and mushrooms. They also eat invertebrates (animals with no backbone), small vertebrates (animals with a backbone), birds, eggs, and carrion (the flesh of dead animals). They try to gain an entire layer of fat during the summer to help them live through the winter hibernation, when they sleep for several months.
Arctic ground squirrels are threatened by foxes, birds, of prey, wolves, grizzly bears, coyotes, and snowy owls. They have many more predators as well. They may also die from the cold during hibernation. When danger approaches, the Arctic ground squirrel will give a loud alarm call and hide in a shallow den in the ground. If a tunnel to a den is not available, they will slide onto the ground in a way commonly called the "tundra slide."
Mating season for the Arctic ground squirrel is in April, right after hibernation. The gestation period (duration of pregnancy) is 25 to 30 days. The pups, young squirrels, are born in June and have less than five months to prepare for the coming winter. They are weaned within 30 days. They have fully grown coats in six to seven weeks and are becoming independent. There are high death rates among young Arctic ground squirrel pups. Arctic squirrels can reproduce at one year of age.
Arctic ground squirrels have a life span of about eight to 10 years. They are not a threatened species.
Bibliography
“Arctic Ground Squirrel - Facts, Diet, Habitat, & Pictures on Animalia.bio.” Animalia, 2024, animalia.bio/arctic-ground-squirrel. Accessed 13 May 2024.
Torre, Nicole. “ADW: Spermophilus Parryii: Information.” Animal Diversity Web, 2013, animaldiversity.org/accounts/Spermophilus‗parryii. Accessed 13 May 2024.