Sciuridae (family) ground squirrels, marmots, and chipmunks

IT IS Taxonomic Serial No.: 180161

Taxonomy Notes: Includes taxonomically Citellus arizonensi, Citellus townsendii, Spermophilus vigilis, and sometimes Spermophilus mollis

Approximately 20 centimeters (7 to 7 ¾ inches)
Approximately 124 grams (4.3 ounces)

These squirrels are the smallest of their genera. The tail is less than a third of the head and body length. It has a gray fur with a bit of cinnamon coloring and a whitish belly.

Approximately 4 years and less

Townsend's ground squirrels are found near desert shrub areas at highest altitude around 6890 feet. Commonly they feed and live around sagebrush, sagebrush steppe, wheatgrass-needlegrass shrub steppe, bitterbrush, and the edges of some riparian areas.

Townsend’s ground squirrels are found in eastern California, southeastern Oregon, southern Idaho, western Utah, and all of Nevada.

These squirrels are best known as an agricultural menace destroying grain and grass. Townsend's ground squirrels become dormant in late spring or early summer, after grasses cure and emerge from dormancy in late winter. These squirrels are in dormancy nearly eight continuous months. Their inactive period is shorter during wet years, when green forage is available later in summer, than in dry years.

Omnivore. Seeds are an important source of calories just prior to aestivation (inactive summer period) for the Townsend’s ground squirrel. Where present, winterfat is browsed heavily, but only light browsing of other shrubs occurs. Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is an important food item in some years. As an annual with wide year-to-year swings in productivity, however, it is not a reliable food source. During dry times of spring and summer, Townsend’s ground squirrels feed primarily on green vegetation including leaves, flowers, bulbs, roots, etc.

Breeding occurs soon after hibernation, mid January to late April. Litter size averages about 6-7. In the lowlands, females usually produce one litter per year. The young are born hairless and their eyes are closed; they remain underground for about 8 weeks.

Spermophile means “seed lover” in Greek.