Arctic Ground Squirrel Facts

Arctic Ground Squirrel Facts

 

Latin name: Spermophilus parryii

Lifespan:  9 years

Weight:  700g – 800g

Gestation: 25-30 days

 

Diet:

The Arctic ground squirrels diet consists mainly of seeds, berries, leaves, flowers, mushrooms, grasses and carrion.

 

Predators:

Grizzly bears, wolves, foxes, ermine as well as raptors such as eagles, hawks and owls.

 

The Interesting facts on Artic Ground Squirrels:

 

This species of ground squirrel is the largest species found in North America.

 

Arctic ground squirrels are very social and can be found in large colonies of up to a 100 or more.

The large numbers of eyes on the constant look-out, help to detect any possible threats from advancing predators.

 

They are also known by the name “Gopher”. The Alaskan Eskimo’s call it “Sik-sik” which describes one of the sounds that they make.

 

To avoid detection from predators these ground squirrels will press their bodies hard against the ground. This is known as the “Tundra glide”

 

The Arctic ground squirrels vocabulary is quite advanced in that they have a large number of distinctly different vocalisations. They make different alarm or warning calls for different predators, they will also make different calls depending of if the attacking predators is on land or coming from the sky!  

 

During the winter when the squirrels are hibernating, Grizzly bears will often dig open their shallow burrows to feed on them.

 

Artic Ground Squirrels will hibernate for up to 8 months. During this period their body temperature will drop to just below 0 degrees Celsius with a heart rate of as low as 1 beat per minute! This drop in body temperature is known as supercooling.