# 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. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 21 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Uinta Ground Squirrel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Uinta_ground_squirrel%252C_Jackson.jpg&width=800) Photo: Raggatt2000, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Uinta_ground_squirrel%252C_Jackson.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Sciuridae - **Genus:** Urocitellus ## 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 - **Deep Sleeper:** Uinta Ground Squirrels can hibernate for over half the year to survive cold winters by slowing their heart rate and breathing. - **Alert System:** Uinta Ground Squirrels can make sharp chirping calls to warn others of danger, protecting their colony from predators. - **Home Builder:** Uinta Ground Squirrels can dig complex burrows that provide safe homes and escape routes from predators and harsh weather. - **Food Stasher:** 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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — a primary predator in their habitat - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — hunts squirrels from above - **Eaten by:** [American Badger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-badger) (*Taxidea taxus*) — digs into burrows to catch them ## 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. - [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. - [Hibernating](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/hibernating): Hibernating animals enter a state of metabolic depression during cold periods or when food is scarce, characterized by reduced body temperature and activity. - [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 Watch from a distance and don't try to touch or catch them, as they are wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Uinta 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 Uinta Ground Squirrel? 28-35 cm ### How much does Uinta Ground Squirrel weigh? 0.17-0.4 kg ### How long does Uinta Ground Squirrel live? 2-5 years ### How fast can Uinta Ground Squirrel move? 28 km/h ### What does Uinta Ground Squirrel eat? These furry foragers eat a mix of plants, seeds, and sometimes even insects. ### Where is Uinta Ground Squirrel usually found? Mountain regions ### How does Uinta Ground Squirrel hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Jackson Lake Lodge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jackson-lake-lodge) — Wyoming, US · Historic Site - [Mormon Row Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mormon-row-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Murie Ranch Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/murie-ranch-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [North Entrance Road Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/north-entrance-road-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [AMK Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/amk-ranch) — Wyoming, US · Historic Site - [Andy Chambers Ranch Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/andy-chambers-ranch-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District [View all places to see Uinta Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/uinta-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: [Uinta Ground Squirrel: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/uinta-ground-squirrel)