Thirteen Lined Ground Squirrel Ictidomys tridecemlineatus

Identification
This small squirrel has thirteen alternating light and dark stripes. It is adapted to open grasslands.

Location
Uncommon in Ohio

Size
4 to 6 ounces

Diet
It feeds on seeds insects and grasses.

Habitat
It occurs in western Ohio prairies.

Activity Period
March to October

Behavior
It is diurnal and hibernates in winter. It is active from spring through autumn.

Lifecycle
Breeding occurs in spring.

Population
The population is small and localized.

History
It was historically more common in prairie regions.

Human Interactions
It rarely interacts with humans.

Facts
It is one of the most grassland dependent mammals in Ohio.

Sources
ODNR NatureServe

Seeds insects grasses | Prairies fields open areas | Western Ohio