Nature Walk: 13-lined Ground Squirrel

Most of us have seen a 13-lined ground squirrel standing on a roadside edge or running across the road. Often found in open mowed areas such a golf courses and cemeteries, they are active above ground during the day and live in extensive underground burrows. While primarily vegetarians, their diet also includes insects and even small mammals such as mice or shrews. Their burrows can attract badgers who prey on them, and the badger’s quest can result in large holes and mounds of soil. My wife, Linda, photographed this curious critter along a country road.