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Franklin's ground squirrel
Franklin's ground squirrels are larger than the average ground
squirrel. They have a slender and elongated body that measures 355
to 410 mm in total length, tail length measures 120 to 158 mm. The
pelage is and short salt-and-pepper colored and the tail is bushy.
The head and tail are grayish as a result of of alternating bands of
black and white on the individual hairs. The feet are pale gray and
the ears are short and ovate. Males are heavier than females and
winter and summer weights vary significantly. Males range from 370
to 500 g in spring, upon emerging from hibernation to 570 to 950 g
in late fall, before entering hibernation. Female weights range from
340 to 425 g in spring and 500 to 760 g in fall.
Reproduction
There is a great deal of rivalry during courtship among males in
their pursuit of a female. Musky discharges from the anal glands
play a role in the sex attracting process. The mating phase of the
reproductive process is completed by mid-April. The gestation period
is about 28 days. The young are born in May or June. Franklin's
ground squirrels have one litter annually, which contains from 5-10
babies (average 7). At birth the young are naked and blind but at
ten days old fuzzy hair appears. At 20 days their eyes open and they
can emit whistle calls. At 30 days the young venture outside and at
40 days the weaning process is completed. By the time winter comes,
the young are almost adult size. The young squirrels are not
interested in mating until after hibernation at the end of their
first year.
Behavior
Franklin's ground squirrels lack the noisy and "curious" actions
that are apparent in their relatives, they are relatively
inconspicuous. Franklin's ground squirrels don't usually stand in an
upright position, as their relatives do when alarmed. Instead they
immediately seek refuge in their burrows.
Franklin ground squirrels are most active on bright, sunny days.
They are estimated to spend approximately 10% of their time above
ground. They usually inhabit an area that is about 300 feet in
diameter. They dig ground burrows that may extend as much as 8 ft
underground, and that have several branches and openings. Burrows
can be found in tall grass or weed cover, on rocky slopes, on
railroad embankments, and under logs, rocks, and fences.
Franklin's ground squirrels can swim and climb trees. They are less
social than other ground squirrel species but do often live in loose
aggregations.
They have been know to make a variety of calls, suggesting
gregarious relationship. The meaning of the calls is not know, but
they are described as being clear and musical.
Franklin's ground squirrels put on a heavy layer of fat in the late
summer for sustenance during winter hibernation. By late September,
each squirrel has selected an underground spot for hibernation. It
hibernates through the winter and emerges in late March or early
April.
Food Habits
Franklin's ground squirrels' diet consists of tough vegetable fibers
and hard-shelled seeds and fruits. They feed on the vegetative parts
of grasses, clovers, mustard, dandelion, strawberry, thistle and
other plants. Seeds and fruits as well as cultivated crops such as
corn, oats, wheat and a variety of garden vegetables are also part
of their diet. Franklin's ground squirrels also eat some animal
material, including beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, crickets,
ants, small birds, ducks, deer mice, frogs, toads, birds' or ducks'
eggs, and even other ground squirrels.
In captivity they should be offered a complete diet of rodent lab blocks, and rat or mouse
mix, with bits of fruit or veggies regularly. Cheerios or wheat
bread are great treats, in small quantities. Do NOT feed chocolate,
fried foods, salted foods, candy or junk food! They may enjoy
crickets and mealworms if they are captive bred, never feed wild
insects as they may carry parasites. Vitamins, like Nutri-Cal are a good addition to their diet, and added calcium
during nursing and growth due to demands on their systems at those
times, but take care not to overdo it. Water bottles should be used
to proved constant, clean water. Ceramic or stoneware food dishes
work well for keeping seeds or fresh foods off the floor, and a wire
mesh hopper that allows them to eat the lab blocks through without
extra waste.
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