Ground squirrels offer free entertainment, no internet connection required
by Jolaine Lanehart
The Rio Grande Valley is known for its colorful birds and butterflies, but there are other interesting – and often entertaining – critters that add diversity to our area. The Mexican Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus mexicanus) is a small mammal that lives in burrows, or tunnels, in the ground, and probably in your yard.
The Mexican Ground Squirrel is distinguished from other small rodents such as Chipmunks by the nine rows of square shaped white spots on its back. The fur is tan with a white belly. The tale is a little bushy and they are smaller than the familiar tree squirrel.
The ground squirrel excavates three types of burrows – nesting, hibernating, and hiding – and there are usually two entrances (or escape routes) to each burrow. In spite of all this digging, most holes are hard to find since the dirt is not piled up at the entrances. They may also use other holes for hiding from predators. Like most squirrels, they are usually seen dashing frantically from one area to another, but occasionally they will stop and sit up erect, like little statues, ever alert to predators such as snakes, birds, and larger mammals.
Preferring to live solitary lives, they will breed once a year in the late spring. Gestation is about 30 days. The babies are born blind and helpless. The young are called pups or kits. Litters usually contain five but I have seen up to 8 youngsters emerge from the nesting site with their mother. The youngsters will play hide and seek, chase, and wrestle each other for hours, but are quick to dive underground if they sense danger.
During the hottest days of summer, ground squirrels can enter a state of inactivity and may hibernate during cold weather.
They prefer to forage for food near their burrows. Their diet appears to include mostly green vegetation (forbs and grass) and insects. They also will eat berries, roots, bulbs, seeds, grain, nuts, Mesquite bean pods, and vegetables from your newly planted garden. Reportedly, the ground squirrel will eat carrion and may be cannibalistic if kept captive.
The Rio Grande Valley Chapter, Texas Master Naturalist develops knowledgeable volunteers dedicated to the study and conservation of natural resources and natural areas in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and helps the natural world through service, outreach and education.