Bearded Squirrel (Richardson Ground Squirrel)
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Walking on the Wild Side
October is here and many of our ground squirrels are snuggling deep in their burrows for a winter nap. Time to slow down their heart rates and breathing to enter a state that best conserves energy. We have several species of ground squirrels here in Montana. Some of which do not enter true hibernation and others that take “hibernation” to heart spending more time in the burrows than above ground. This blog will cover most of our ground squirrels at a high level to spark your interest in learning more about your favorite species.
"Bearded Squirrel" (Richardson Ground Squirrel)
One of my all time top sellers with over 100 sold between cards and prints on various media. A 16” x 20” metal print graces the walls of The Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center in Salida, Colorado. You to can own this precious squirrel, guaranteed to make you smile : ) Just click on the photo above for sizes and prices.
I will start of with the Richardson Ground Squirrel, also known as the Gunnison Ground Squirrel. This ground squirrel is often mistaken as a prairie dog do its similar features. However, if you look closely, the Richardson is smaller in size and slimmer in the “Hips” then the prairie dogs. Take a close look at that tail and if it is longer, fluffier and lacking a black tip or a white tip then you have spotted a Richardson Ground Squirrel. For the most part, they live East of the continental divide in Montana and prefer the wide open spaces of the plains. These ground squirrels spend more time in hibernation than above ground often emerging in March and going to their burrows sometimes as early as September.
The Columbian ground squirrel has that reddish colored nose which really makes them stand out.
Then we have their “Western” cousins, the Columbian Ground Squirrels. These ground squirrels mostly are found on the West side of the Continental divide in Montana. Unlike the Richardson, they inhabit open forest and can even be found above tree line. As for hibernation, they follow a similar schedule to their Eastern cousins with some variation in timing between higher elevation dwellers and the lower elevation dwellers driven by high temperatures and the drying of the vegetation. As for their burrows, the Columbian ground squirrels build a special hibernation chamber reinforced with shredded grass and dirt to seal it off.
Who says squirrels can not talk?
A profile picture which shows off the thirteen stripes and dots that make up the pattern of the Thirteen - lined ground Squirrel.
Lets delve into yet another Montana ground squirrel, the Thirteen-lined Squirrel named for its thirteen stripes. They are found among the prairies of Eastern and Central Montana but can also make themselves at home in your yard as they like short grassy areas. They are know for digging many burrows that serve different purposes. They often dig multiple short tunnel burrows used for escape purposes in addition to nest burrows and winter burrows. In order to regulate body temperature during those winter months, their winter burrows will be much deeper than their “escape” burrows.
Can you see now why my nickname is the squirrel whisper?
Prairie dogs have that "pear shaped" figure.
As for prairie dogs, I am only going to talk about the Black-tailed Prairie Dog as they are the most prevalent in Montana. If you find yourself missing ground squirrels during hibernation season, you can go spend some time with the Black-tailed Prairie Dogs, as they do not hibernate. Be sure to go on a nice warm sunny day as they will spend days at a time during cold cloudy days underground. This species is know for living in large social colonies. They will build large complex burrow system that house many within the colony and share in the responsibility for being “guard dogs”.
The also happen to be super sweet with a touch of silly : )!!
I am not going to cover Chipmunks or Golden Mantle Ground Squirrels as a recent blog featured them. Here is a link to that blog to refresh your memory on these small and mighty creatures.
https://www.leaf-images.com/blog/2024/7/chipmunks
Marmots deserve their own blog for many reasons, so you will just have to wait until I write one.
A yellow-bellied marmot patiently waiting...
As for the Uinta ground squirrel which is mostly found in Wyoming and a limited area of Southwestern Montana, please feel free to read more about them at the following link.
https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/uinta-ground-squirrel.htm
Not everyone loves squirrels, especially because they do have a destructive side. For me however, squirrels will always have a special place in my heart. They brought me joy in times of sorrow which truly helped me get through a dark patch in my life and this is why I have many, many pictures of squirrels. If you happen to be a squirrel lover like me, I likely have a picture you will love.
Wishing you joy in discovering our natural world,
Lea Frye - Wildlife photographer
www.leaf-images.com | Lea Frye, Wildlife Photographer | Helena, MT
Wild Animals / Wild Landscapes