![]() ![]() Ground Squirrel Fact #3: Their Body Temperatures Can Go Dangerously High During Summer Scientists study this squirrel to understand how it can have such a low flow of blood without developing lethal blood clots. The 13 lined ground squirrel also goes into an extreme hibernation where its body temperature can drop to 4C and will only have 3-5 heartbeats per minute. The Arctic ground squirrel is not the only hibernating ground squirrel that has the attention of scientists. However, as soon as the squirrel starts to warm up their brains regenerate all of the lost synapses! It turns out that when the Arctic ground squirrel shuts itself down the extreme cold and lack of oxygen just about destroys the animal’s brain. Scientists are studying this squirrel as they think it might help them find a cure for degenerative brain diseases. By removing any nucleation points the water in the blood will not freeze at standard temperatures. Supercooling is basically the removal of any particles in the blood that would serve as nucleation points for water crystallization. ![]() This process prevents their body fluids from freezing during hibernation. If you come upon an Arctic squirrel during this period, you are likely to mistake them as dead.Īrctic ground squirrels also adopt a process called supercooling. Some of their major organs slow down during hibernation, while others can shut down entirely. This is the lowest body temperature recorded in a mammal. During their period, their body temperature can drop to -2.9 degrees centigrade. Given the extreme weather conditions and the unavailability of food, Arctic ground squirrels go in their underground burrows and slip into a deep sleep. And that’s not all, they also adopt a unique mechanism of survival during this period. Ground Squirrel Fact #2: Their Body Temperatures Can Go Dangerously Low During HibernationĪrctic ground squirrels hibernate for 8 months during the winter. What’s more, the snake got killed in the attack. There have also been several reports where a ground squirrel did not play it safe and ended up attacking the snake instead. This infra-red head signature also makes the squirrel appear bigger to the snake. They flick their tails and send out an infra-red heat signature through their tails to the oncoming predator. They may also chew the snakeskin and then lick their babies instead, just like in this video here:Īs far as defense tactics go, mature ground squirrels defend themselves by warning a rattlesnake that their presence has been detected. They don’t carry the antidote to the venom in their blood and often fall victim to rattlesnakes.Īdult ground squirrels sometimes protect baby squirrels by covering them in snakeskin and masking their scent. As a result, snake bites don’t affect them. This is because these ground squirrels have evolved to become immune to the venom of a rattlesnake. A mature California ground squirrel can defend itself against a snake attack. I was reading through some of the research that’s been done on them and these incredible facts about ground squirrels will certainly make you look at them in a VERY different light: Ground Squirrel Fact #1: They Can Take on Rattlesnakes… And Win! They may not look like much, but ground squirrels are actually pretty interesting creatures. Unlike tree squirrels, many species of ground squirrels hibernate to make it through the winter. Their fur texture can vary and it could be thin and rough or soft and thick. Most ground squirrels also have stripes and spots on their skin. The color of their fur can vary quite widely and it can be grey, pale brown, tawny, olive, reddish brown or dark brown. ![]() ![]() They have short legs and a tail of moderate length. Ground squirrels are active during the day and sleep at night. Ground squirrels are different from chipmunks as well. However, by that definition, you end up including species like Prairie Dogs, Groundhogs and other marmots in the count. Technically, any squirrel that lives in burrows in the ground is a ground squirrel. The folks over at Encyclopedia Britannica say there are 62 different ground squirrel species but it is tricky to get an exact count. If they spend their time on the ground instead, then you have a ground squirrel for company.īelonging to the Sciuridae family of rodents, the ground squirrel is a type of a squirrel that lives on the ground and inside burrows. For instance, if your squirrel appears to live in trees, then these are tree squirrels. Some basic differences can help narrow things down though. Of course, if you try and learn about each type, then it can become confusing really quickly. But have you ever wondered which type of squirrel you’re playing host to? This may come as a surprise to you, but there are 269 species of squirrels in the world! If your yard is often visited by squirrels, then you may have encountered these furballs quite a bit. ![]()
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