Monday, March 23, 2009

13 Lines + Squirrel =

The thirteen-lined ground squirrel!

Central Ohio is home to the easternmost populations of the thirteen-lined ground squirrel, Spermophilus tridecemlineatus. How about that for a scientific name?

 

 

 

 


My buddy and co-worker Rick G., who many of you know and love as Ohio's Natural Heritage Botanist, and his lovely wife, were out gallivanting this weekend near Circleville, Ohio, and spotted this quite photogenic creature. Fascinating, isn't it? Ohioans, have you ever had an encounter with these? How about our friends on the plains? Apparently, the Minnesota Golden Gopher is actually a thirteen-lined ground squirrel. I guess the nickname "The Minnesota Spermophilus tridecemlineatuses" was too long, so they went with the golden gophers. Thanks Rick for these awesome images.

Also, if you are out and about, and happen to capture some great images of Ohio's Natural History, but don't have enough time to do a blog yourself, send them to me, and I'll feature them here. My e-mail is in the sidebar on the right, just above my facebook badge.

Tom
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9 comments:

  1. It looks justlike a prairie dog!

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  2. Tom, that is one tall and thin looking ground squirrel. They are pretty sleak looking. I enjoy all of these underground critters living a life unseen to us surface dwellers.

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  3. Too cool. Spermophilus tridecemlineatuses would be awfully difficult to work into a cheer.

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  4. Tom: I didn't even know we had these guys in Ohio.

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  5. That is a lot of name for such a little creature :-) Very interesting. I've never seen any ground squirrels here and didn't know you had them in Ohio!

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  6. Megan- yes, like a mini one.

    Moments- They are sleek looking. I'd like to try to photograph these creatures some day as well.

    Marvin..Let's Go........

    Tom- Aren't they neat? They aren't in N.E. Ohio, unfortunately.

    Mary- I'm thinking they could be out your way, but maybe not, since you are so far south. Maybe in the flatter parts of Indiana?

    Tom

    Tom

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  7. I shoot them about everyday in the spring and summer, they are destructive and invasive rodent.

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    1. I like them and appreciate them as members of our native fauna. They are quite uncommon in Ohio and are at the extreme eastern edge of their range. -Tom

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