Piute Ground Squirrel

activity

Activity patterns. The Piute Ground Squirrel is diurnal and emerges from hibernation in January-February; males initiate hibernation in May and females and young-of-theyear in July. Males typically emerge 14 - 21 days before females; young are often the last to enter hibernation. It can be a pest around cultivated crops and on some rangelands.

Sciuridae

biology_ecology

Habitat. High desert sagebrush (Artemisia, Asteraceae) steppes in well-drained soils, often near springs or irrigated fields.

Sciuridae

biology_ecology

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Piute Ground Squirrel forms colonies, but adults live in separate burrows. Burrow systems can be extensive, with many short escape burrows. Mean home range is 0 - 14 ha. Alarm calls are short high-pitched squeaks, produced while upright and vigilant or immediately priorto retreat to a burrow.

Sciuridae

breeding

Breeding. The Piute Ground Squirrel inhabits burrows with a vegetation-lined nest chamber in which young are born. Maternity burrows and hibernation burrows may contain multiple openings and nest chambers, and these burrows may penetrate 1 m belowground. Males emerge from hibernation 2 - 3 weeks before females in spring; breeding occurs from late January to March just after females emerge. Gestation is c. 24 days; single annual litters of 5 - 10 young are born. Males are reproductively mature after 1 - 2 years; females can breed as yearlings. During prolonged drought, reproduction will be foregone.

Sciuridae