Diet

The Columbian ground squirrel is a forager that has a very wide ranging diet. They typically eat vegetation such as roots, bulbs, stems, flowers and seed capsules, although they have also been documented eating insects as well (Manville, 1959). Early in their active period, the squirrels will eat a variety of grasses and sedges. Later on their active period, they will consume a large amount of fruit and seeds, such as currants, gooseberries, strawberries, and whortleberries (Manville, 1959).

Despite their wide ranging diet, Columbian ground squirrels have to eat a very specific diet as their active period winds down in order to be prepared for their long hibernation period. Since their bodies survive off of fat stores during hibernation, the Columbian ground squirrels will greatly increase the amount of fat they eat, particularly polyunsaturated fat (Frank 1994). The squirrels get this polyunsaturated fat from plants that are high in cellulose.

Despite the variety of foods the ground squirrel can eat, resources are a limiting factor in ground squirrel populations (Dobson and Oli, 2001). Food resources are only abundant through July (Dobson and Oli, 2001). Beyond this point, food is scarce and difficult to come by. The main cause of the limited resources is the elevation that the squirrels live at. The high elevation and mountainous terrain is not conducive to an abundance of plant growth (Dobson and Oli, 2001).

This website was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Biology 323, Animal Behavior, at Davidson College in the Spring Semester 2008.

Please send any comments, questions or suggestions regarding this website to Kevin Cook or Professor Verna Case.