Christopher Taylor Bird Nature Wildlife Mammal Photography
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GALLERIES > MAMMALS > BELDING'S GROUND SQUIRREL [Spermophilus beldingi]

Belding's Ground Squirrel Photo
 
 
Location: Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite Natl Park, CA
GPS: 37.9W, -119.3N MAP
Date: July 13, 2008
ID: 7C2V5302
Belding's Ground Squirrel Photo
 
 
Location: Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite Natl Park, CA
GPS: 37.9W, -119.3N MAP
Date: July 13, 2008
ID: 7C2V5300

nature photography

SPECIES INFO

Belding's Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus beldingi), also called Sage Rat, is a squirrel that lives on mountains in the western United States. In California, it often is found at 6,500–11,800 feet (2000–3700 m) in meadows between Lake Tahoe and Kings Canyon.

This extensively studied rodent has a gray back with a buff-colored belly and sides, and is about 10 inches (25 cm) long. It often is seen sitting on its hind legs, watching for predators. It burrows where the earth is dry and soft enough to dig.

Belding's Ground Squirrels hibernate for about eight months of the year. Males emerge first—often in late April, when snow still covers the ground.

Usually, only a small portion of the larger, older males mate. Gestation is 23–25 days.


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