# Franklin's Ground Squirrel (*Poliocitellus franklinii*) Franklin's Ground Squirrel is a small, friendly animal that loves to dig and play in the grass. They have fluffy tails and enjoy sunny days outside, often seen popping up from their burrows. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Franklin's Ground Squirrel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Franklin's_Ground_Squirrel.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ceasol, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Franklin's_Ground_Squirrel.jpg) ## Appearance The Franklin's Ground Squirrel has a speckled, grizzled grey-brown back, often appearing streaky or patchy, with a paler, sometimes yellowish-white belly. Unlike many ground squirrels, it possesses a relatively long, bushy tail, giving it a somewhat fox-like appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Sciuridae - **Genus:** Poliocitellus ## Interesting facts - Franklin's ground squirrels are excellent swimmers and can cross small bodies of water! - These squirrels spend up to 7 months of the year hibernating in their cozy underground dens! - They are often called "bushy-tailed ground squirrels" because their tails are unusually long for their kind! - They often move between different burrows, sometimes using up to 10 in a year! ## Special abilities - **Hibernation Master:** Franklin's Ground Squirrel can sleep for over half the year because it hibernates deep underground to survive cold winters. - **Harvest Hoarder:** Franklin's Ground Squirrel has special cheek pouches that help them carry many seeds to store in their underground burrows. - **Sentry Whistle:** Franklin's Ground Squirrel can make loud, bird-like alarm calls that help them warn other squirrels of nearby danger. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 23-40 cm - **Weight:** 0.2-0.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Litter Size:** 5-8 - **Gestation:** 28-32 days ## Diet & Feeding An omnivore eating plants, seeds, insects, and even small eggs for energy! - **Primary Foods:** Seeds, Grasses, Insects, Bird Eggs, Small Mammals, Berries - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Prairie coyotes hunt ground squirrels for food. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — These hawks hunt ground squirrels from the sky. - **Eaten by:** [American Badger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-badger) (*Taxidea taxus*) — Badgers dig into burrows to find and eat squirrels. - **Eats:** American Grasshopper (*Schistocerca americana*) — Ground squirrels eat various insects, including grasshoppers. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [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. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [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 do not try to touch wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Franklin's 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 Franklin's Ground Squirrel? 23-40 cm ### How much does Franklin's Ground Squirrel weigh? 0.2-0.5 kg ### How long does Franklin's Ground Squirrel live? 2-5 years ### How fast can Franklin's Ground Squirrel move? 25 km/h ### What does Franklin's Ground Squirrel eat? An omnivore eating plants, seeds, insects, and even small eggs for energy! ### Where is Franklin's Ground Squirrel usually found? Grasslands ### How does Franklin's Ground Squirrel hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Lauritzen Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lauritzen-gardens) — Iowa, US · Botanical Garden ## 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: [Franklin's Ground Squirrel: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/franklins-ground-squirrel)