Richardson's Ground Squirrel, called 'gopher' by prairie residents, is a colonial, buffy-gray ground squirrel of the northern Great Plains and Canadian prairies. It emerges from hibernation in early spring, with males waking weeks before females to establish territories. Its alarm call—a piercing whistle—has given it the nickname 'picket pin' because motionless individuals resemble fence posts.
Best time to see a Richardson's Ground Squirrel
The best time to see a Richardson's Ground Squirrel is May–July, when about 65% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 576 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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