Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Callospermophilus lateralis
Often mistaken for chipmunks, they can be easily distinguished because they lack the black and white stripes across their faces.
- Scientific name
- Callospermophilus lateralis
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Rodentia › Sciuridae › Callospermophilus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Coniferous forests, rocky slopes, subalpine meadows, and shrublands.
- Diet
- Omnivorous; feeds on pine seeds, acorns, berries, fungi, insects, and occasionally small bird eggs or carrion.
- Range
- Western United States, Western Canada, Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada
- Size
- 23 to 30 cm in length; 120 to 390 grams in weight
- Lifespan
- 3 to 7 years in the wild
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, climate change affecting alpine snowpack/hibernation cycles, and localized pest control measures.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless but defensive if cornered or handled. Maintain a respectful distance and do not feed them, as human food is harmful and they can bite. They may also carry fleas harboring plague or tick-borne pathogens. If bitten, wash the wound immediately with soap and water and seek medical attention.
The golden-mantled ground squirrel ( Callospermophilus lateralis ) is a ground squirrel native to western North America. It is distributed in British Columbia and Alberta through the western United States to California, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Photo: Judy Gallagher, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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