The Columbian Ground Squirrel is a social colonial squirrel abundant in mountain meadows of the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies. It spends the majority of its life in hibernation—sometimes more than seven months—and is active for only a brief summer window. Young squirrels must build enough fat reserves in just a few weeks to survive their first winter.
Habitat
Subalpine meadows, forest clearings, and agricultural fields
Diet
Grasses, forbs, roots, and insects
How common
Common
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