Uinta Ground Squirrel

Urocitellus armatus

The Uinta Ground Squirrel is a small, furry animal that loves to dig and play in the grass. They have fluffy tails and are often seen sitting up on their hind legs to look around.

Habitat: Mountain regions

Appearance

The Uinta Ground Squirrel has a stout body covered in brownish-gray fur on its back, fading to a lighter buff or whitish on its belly. It lacks distinct stripes or spots, featuring small ears and a relatively short, bushy tail that matches its body color.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderRodentiaFamilySciuridaeGenusUrocitellus

Uinta Ground Squirrel

Interesting facts

A single Uinta Ground Squirrel colony can have dozens of interconnected burrows!

These little squirrels can stuff their cheeks full of seeds like a snack bag!

They spend more than half their life sleeping deeply underground during winter!

They stand tall like tiny sentinels to watch for danger and alert their family.

Special abilities

Uinta Ground Squirrels can hibernate for over half the year to survive cold winters by slowing their heart rate and breathing.

Uinta Ground Squirrels can make sharp chirping calls to warn others of danger, protecting their colony from predators.

Uinta Ground Squirrels can dig complex burrows that provide safe homes and escape routes from predators and harsh weather.

Uinta Ground Squirrels can store food in cheek pouches to carry back to their burrows or to eat quickly when foraging.

Measurements & details

Length: 28-35 cm
Weight: 0.17-0.4 kg
Lifespan: 2-5 years
Top Speed: 28 km/h
Litter Size: 4-7
Gestation: 28-32 days

Diet & Feeding

These furry foragers eat a mix of plants, seeds, and sometimes even insects.

Primary Foods

Grasses
Forbs
Seeds
Berries
Insects
Fungi

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Coyote

Canis latrans

a primary predator in their habitat

eaten by

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

hunts squirrels from above

eaten by

American Badger

Taxidea taxus

digs into burrows to catch them

Traits

Furry

Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Burrowing

Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding.

Grassland

Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.

Herbivorous

This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.

Mountain

This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones.

Hibernating

Hibernating animals enter a state of metabolic depression during cold periods or when food is scarce, characterized by reduced body temperature and activity.