# Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (*Callospermophilus lateralis*) The Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel is a small, cute animal with a golden stripe down its back. They love to dig and can often be seen in parks and forests, looking for tasty seeds and nuts. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 49 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Goldmantelziesel.jpg&width=800) Photo: Eborutta at German Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Goldmantelziesel.jpg) ## Appearance The Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel has a bright golden-orange head, neck, and shoulders, resembling a mantle. Its back is greyish-brown with two prominent white stripes, each bordered by thin black lines, running along its sides. This unique pattern makes it visually distinct from other ground squirrels. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Sciuridae - **Genus:** Callospermophilus ## Interesting facts - Golden-mantled squirrels line their cozy underground homes with soft grass! - These squirrels sometimes eat insects and even tiny bird eggs! - They communicate using their tails, twitching them to show excitement or alarm! - They stand tall like tiny sentinels to watch for hungry predators! ## Special abilities - **Winter Nap Master:** Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels can hibernate for months because this helps them survive cold winters when food is scarce. - **Snack Stashers:** Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels have expandable cheek pouches that help them carry lots of food to their burrows at once. - **Burrow Builders:** Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels can dig complex underground burrows that shelter them from predators and extreme weather. - **Loud Lookout:** Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels can make sharp chirping calls that alert other squirrels to danger. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 23-30 cm - **Weight:** 0.14-0.3 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Speed:** 30 km/h - **Litter Size:** 4-8 - **Gestation:** 28-30 days ## Diet & Feeding These omnivores munch on seeds, nuts, insects, and berries, gathering food for their hidden stashes! - **Primary Foods:** Seeds, Nuts, Fungi, Insects, Berries - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Pups and adults can be prey for coyotes. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Hawks hunt from above, swooping down on squirrels. - **Eaten by:** [American Badger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-badger) (*Taxidea taxus*) — Badgers dig into burrows to find these squirrels. - **Eats:** [Lodgepole Pine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lodgepole-pine) (*Pinus contorta*) — Squirrels gather and eat the nutritious seeds from pine cones. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch from a distance and don't try to touch or feed wild squirrels. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel? 23-30 cm ### How much does Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel weigh? 0.14-0.3 kg ### How long does Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel live? 2-5 years ### How fast can Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel move? 30 km/h ### What does Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel eat? These omnivores munch on seeds, nuts, insects, and berries, gathering food for their hidden stashes! ### Where is Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel usually found? Mountain regions ### How does Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Bryce Canyon Lodge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bryce-canyon-lodge-historic-district) — Utah, US · Historic District - [Bryce Canyon National Park Scenic Trails Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bryce-canyon-national-park-scenic-trails-historic-district) — Utah, US · Trail - [Great Northern Railway Buildings](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-northern-railway-buildings) — Montana, US · Historic Site - [Independence](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/independence) — Colorado, US · Neighborhood - [Rim Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rim-village-historic-district) — Oregon, US · Historic District - [Sherburne Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sherburne-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District [View all places to see Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-golden-mantled-ground-squirrel) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-golden-mantled-ground-squirrel)