Ground Squirrels -- Not Gophers

With the arrival of springs comes another major event--the return of the ground squirrels. Yes, that was ground squirrels--not gophers! Although they are often called gophers or prairie dogs, these names apply to completely different animals. We haven't got any prairie dogs in the area and only one species of gopher; and you'll likely never see it. It lives underground and rarely shows its head above the surface.

There are three main types of ground squirrels to look for in this area: the Richardson, Columbian and golden-mantled. The latter two are mountain cousins to the Richardson's.

As you drive west from Calgary and find yourself dodging ground squirrels along the highway, you're likely swerving to miss Richardson's--they spend a lot of time along the road sides. They like to eat carrion and have no qualms about eating their fallen comrades on the road--often leading to an ever increasing pile of tiny carcasses as one after the other falls victim to the same fate. They also eat a variety of plants and insects.

Once you arrive in the mountains, the Richardson's gives way to the familiar Columbian ground squirrel. Much brighter in colour, with orange or reddish colouring on the face, belly and limbs, it has a distinctive salt and pepper pattern on its back. Like the Richardson's, they are active during the day and can often be seen looking out from their burrow entrance like a periscope. If the coast is clear, they stand straight up to take a closer look at the surrounding area.

Columbian ground squirrels browse near their burrow for the roots, stems and leaves of a large variety of flowers and shrubs. When autumn comes, they dig a special grass lined hibernation chamber, up to a metre deep. When the cold weather arrives, they crawl into this hole and seal the entrance with dirt. With the warmth of spring, rather than simply removing the dirt plug and leaving via the front door, they dig straight up until they emerge into the sunlight.

As you continue to move uphill, the golden-mantled ground squirrel becomes visible. With very little resemblance to its two cousins, it looks more like a large chipmunk without the obvious strip through its eye. Living quite high up, they are popular around viewpoints like Lake Louise and Peyto Lake ready to take whatever handouts they can get. Feeding isn't recommended for both your sake and that of the grounds squirrels.

Like most animals they have specific dietary requirements that generally aren't filled by the usual assortment of cheezies and white bread that visitors feed them. Often, it leaves them in poor condition for their long winter sleep and can result in their not surviving the winter. If that's not enough to discourage you consider this: recent cases of bubonic plague in the mountains have shown that ground squirrels carry the fleas necessary for the transmission of this unpleasant malady. It's definitely not recommended that you allow them to crawl around on you. The likelihood is very slim that you will ever have to worry about this but it's just one more reason to let them find their own food.