Ground Squirrel

Appearance

Thirteen-lined ground squirrels are small rodents that have brown fur with 13 alternating brown and white longitudinal lines (sometimes partially broken into spots) on their back and sides, creating rows of white spots within dark lines. They are about 11 inches long, including a 4-inch long black-striped tail. Adults weigh 4-5 ounces. Their front paws only have four toes with very long claws, but the back feet have five toes with normal claws. The front claws are used for digging.

Lifecycle

Thirteen-lined ground squirrels breed in April or early May, a week or two after emerging from hibernation. The female ground squirrel has a gestation period of 28 days and gives birth to a litter of 5-8 pups on average. The pups are born hairless, helpless, and blind. By 12 days of age, the pups have discernable hair and stripes. At 21 days, they start to walk and at 28 days, their eyes open and they are weaned. One to two litters are produced per year. Sexual maturity occurs at about 9 months. The average lifespan of thirteen-lined ground squirrels is five years.

Habitat

Thirteen-lined ground squirrels prefer open areas with short grass and well-drained sandy or loamy soils for burrows. They can be found in mowed lawns, golf courses, cemeteries, well-grazed pastures, parks, and roadsides. They will also burrow under sidewalks, driveways, and patios which may cause the concrete or bricks to cave in and crack.

Diet

Thirteen-lined ground squirrels eat grasses, weeds, seeds, and crops. They also eat earthworms and insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, and ants. They hardly ever drink water or other liquids and depend on the food that they eat to contain water for hydration.

Behavior

Thirteen-lined ground squirrels are true hibernators, which allow their body temperature to decrease to just above freezing point, while their heart rate drops to 20 beats a minute from its usual 200. They hibernate from October to March or April in underground chambers lined with grass and fur. They will briefly leave hibernation roughly every ten days to eat.

Thirteen-lined ground squirrels are active during the day and spend most of their time foraging or sunbathing near their burrows. They are territorial and will defend their burrows from intruders. They communicate with each other using high-pitched squeaks or low-pitched grunts. They also touch noses or lips in greeting, so it looks as if they kiss each other.

Ground Squirrel Benefits and Problems

Thirteen-lined ground squirrels can be beneficial for the environment as they aerate the soil, control insect pests, and provide food for other animals such as hawks, foxes, or snakes. However, they can also cause problems for homeowners as they damage lawns, gardens, or crops with their burrows and feeding habits. Thirteen-lined ground squirrels can also expose plant roots to air and create tripping hazards with their uneven surfaces.

Control

If you have a thirteen-lined ground squirrel problem in your property, you may want to contact a professional pest control company like Kwik Kill Pest Control. We are based in Madison, Wisconsin, and we have the experience and expertise to deal with thirteen-lined ground squirrels.

Don’t let thirteen-lined ground squirrels ruin your landscape or garden. Call Kwik Kill Pest Control today and let us take care of your thirteen-lined ground squirrel problem once and for all!

Kwik Kill Services to Control Ground Squirrels

Additional Resources

http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Spermophilus_tridecemlineatus/
https://wildlife.unl.edu/pdfs/13-lined-ground-squirrel-controlling-damage.pdf
https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2022-10-14-managing-thirteen-lined-ground-squirrel