Little Ground Squirrel

activity

Activity patterns. The Little Ground Squirrel is diurnal and hibernates in burrows for 5 - 8 months a year. Males emerge first in spring, often in March-April, followed by females. Due to hot arid environments, individuals may enter torpor in June-July and then reemerge or transition from torpor to hibernation. Males are the first to hibernate in August.

Sciuridae

biology_ecology

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Short shallow burrows without nest chambers are used for escape; longer and more convoluted burrows, which may reach 1 m in depth and have one or more nest chambers, are used for maternity needs and hibernation. Little Ground Squirrels live in colonies with intrasexual territoriality, where females have small territories that are defended from other females, and males have large territories that overlap those of several females. Vocalizations are high-pitched alarm calls and moderately complex.

Sciuridae

breeding

Breeding. Male Little Ground Squirrels actively pursue females after emergence from hibernation and attempt to repel other competing males. Gestation lasts 25 - 26 days, and litters have 2 - 12 young (typically averaging 6 - 8 young) that are born underground. Young emerge after 20 - 22 days. Females have only one litter a year.

Sciuridae

conservation

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Current population trend ofthe Little Ground Squirrelis decreasing. Major threats are desiccation in the southern Volga region and wetter trends in mid-latitudes. Abandonment of traditional agricultural practices and overgrazing with increased use of pesticides and irrigation are serious threats. Individuals are shot and poisoned to remove localized damage to vegetable crops. Populations of the Little Ground Squirrel undergo periodic declines, and in the European part of the distribution, some local populations have been extirpated in the last 30 years. Despite these declines, the Little Ground Squirrel remains widespread and abundant overall.

Sciuridae