Head to head
Columbian Ground Squirrel vs Richardson's Ground Squirrel
Columbian Ground Squirrel
VS Richardson's Ground Squirrel
The Columbian ground squirrel and Richardson's ground squirrel are two Urocitellus ground squirrels of northwestern North America, both colonial and both long hibernators, but they live in different landscapes.
| Columbian Ground Squirrel | Richardson's Ground Squirrel | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Urocitellus columbianus | Urocitellus richardsonii |
| Colouring | Grey-brown mottled back with reddish-brown colouring on the face and legs | Plain buff-grey coat without stripes |
| Range and habitat | Meadows, grassland, and open forest in the northern Rocky Mountains region of southwestern Canada and the northwestern United States | Grassland and prairie across the northern Great Plains of Canada and the United States |
| Hibernation | Spends about eight months hibernating and is active above ground for only a short season | Spends much of the year, often most of it, hibernating in a burrow |
| Social life | Lives in colonies with sentinels, and young females tend to stay near where they were born while young males move away | Lives in loose colonies, standing upright and giving sharp whistles and chirps to warn others |
| Predators | Badgers, coyotes, eagles, and bears | Hawks, coyotes, and badgers |
| Diet | Grasses, wildflowers, bulbs, and seeds | Grasses, seeds, and forbs, along with insects |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Columbian Ground Squirrel vs Richardson's Ground Squirrel: common questions
Which ground squirrel has a reddish face?
The Columbian ground squirrel, which has reddish-brown colouring on its face and legs, while Richardson's ground squirrel has a plain buff-grey coat.
Which one hibernates for about eight months?
The Columbian ground squirrel, which spends about eight months hibernating and is active above ground for only a short season.
Where do the Columbian and Richardson's ground squirrels live?
The Columbian ground squirrel lives in meadows and grassland of the northern Rocky Mountains region, while Richardson's ground squirrel lives on the prairie of the northern Great Plains.