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Home/Species/ Belding's Ground Squirrel

Urocitellus beldingi

(Merriam, 1888)

Belding's Ground Squirrel

G5Secure Found in 63 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104604
Element CodeAMAFB05060
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderRodentia
FamilySciuridae
GenusUrocitellus
Synonyms
Spermophilus beldingiMerriam, 1888
Other Common Names
Belding's ground squirrel (EN)
Concept Reference
Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
Taxonomic Comments
Recent molecular phylogenetic studies suggest that the traditionally recognized genera Marmota (marmots), Cynomys (prairie dogs), and Ammospermophilus (antelope ground squirrels) render Spermophilus paraphyletic, potentially suggesting that multiple generic-level lineages should be credited within Spermophilus (Helgen et al. 2009). As a result, ground squirrels formerly allocated to the genus Spermophilus (sensu Thorington and Hoffman, in Wilson and Reeder 2005) are now classified in 8 genera (Notocitellus, Otospermophilus, Callospermophilus, Ictidomys, Poliocitellus, Xerospermophilus, and Urocitellus). Spermophilus sensu stricto is restricted to Eurasia.
Conservation Status
Review Date1996-11-06
Change Date1996-11-06
Range Extent Comments
Western U.S.; eastern Oregon south through northeastern California, southwestern Idaho, north-central Nevada, and extreme southeastern Utah.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Inhabits alpine and subalpine meadows, sagebrush flats, mixed brush and grass habitats, pastures and croplands. Usually found in fairly open habitat (Jenkins and Eshelman 1984). Young are born in underground burrows.

Ecology

Lives in colonies. In California, population density estimates range from 1.2/ha in an alpine meadow, to well over 100/ha in an alfalfa field (Jenkins and Eshelman 1984). Predators include coyotes, badgers, and weasels.

Reproduction

Breeding occurs shortly after hibernation. Gestation lasts 23-28 days. Females are reported to produce 1 litter of 4-12 young, or an average of 8 young/litter (Hall 1946). Sexually mature in 2 years.
Terrestrial Habitats
Shrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousAlpineCropland/hedgerow
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
UtahS1Yes
NevadaS5Yes
OregonS5Yes
IdahoS3Yes
Roadless Areas (63)
California (37)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainTahoe National Forest5,832
Caples CreekEldorado National Forest17,854
Carson - IcebergStanislaus National Forest56,430
Chineese Camp (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,339
Coyote NorthInyo National Forest11,932
Coyote SoutheastInyo National Forest53,159
DardanellesEldorado National Forest8,110
Dobie FlatModoc National Forest15,079
DomeStanislaus National Forest11,085
EagleStanislaus National Forest16,116
Fawn LakeEldorado National Forest1,153
Hall Natural AreaInyo National Forest5,236
Hoover - Emma LakeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,007
Hoover - Mt.olsenHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest624
Hoover - NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,574
Hoover - Valley RidgeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest564
Hoover - Virginia LksHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,050
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
Iceberg - Mill CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest26,988
Log Cabin SaddlebagInyo National Forest15,165
Mt. JacksonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest20,721
Mt. OlsenInyo National Forest2,161
Mt. RebaStanislaus National Forest3,869
NessieInyo National Forest830
NightStanislaus National Forest3,173
North LakeInyo National Forest2,406
ParsnipModoc National Forest8,485
Raymond PeakEldorado National Forest2,518
Raymond PeakStanislaus National Forest3,646
Robinson PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,835
Rock Creek WestInyo National Forest3,626
SherwinInyo National Forest3,140
Silver HillHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,423
Table Mtn.Inyo National Forest4,215
Tioga LakeInyo National Forest829
Tragedy - Elephants BackEldorado National Forest20,866
Wheeler RidgeInyo National Forest15,744
Idaho (1)
AreaForestAcres
HoodooNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest153,868
Nevada (14)
AreaForestAcres
Alta T - East BHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest21,732
Bunker HillHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest27,569
ButtermilkHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest19,373
Mahogany RidgeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest16,765
McaffieHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest26,110
Rose - GalenaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest3,711
Ruby - Lamoille CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest32,771
Ruby - Secret Pk.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest6,749
Ruby - ThompsonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,289
Santa RosaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest54,555
SnowbirdHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest8,859
Spanish PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest31,520
Toiyabe RangeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest99,225
VincentiHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest7,920
Oregon (11)
AreaForestAcres
Brattain ButteFremont National Forest5,959
Crane MountainFremont National Forest23,096
Hanan TrailFremont National Forest8,111
HellholeUmatilla National Forest65,679
Mcclellan MountainMalheur National Forest21,213
Mt. BaileyUmpqua National Forest18,401
North PaulinaDeschutes National Forest19,670
Sky Lakes AWinema National Forest3,940
South PaulinaDeschutes National Forest9,074
Twin MountainWallowa-Whitman National Forest58,533
West - South BachelorDeschutes National Forest25,994
References (21)
  1. American Society of Mammalogists (ASM). 2025. Mammal Diversity Database (Version 1.13) [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10595931. Online. Available: https://www.mammaldiversity.org/
  2. Banfield, A. W. F. 1974. The mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada. 438 pp.
  3. Drabek, C. M. 1973. Home range and daily activity of the round-tailed ground squirrel, <i>Spermophilus tereticaudus neglectus</i>. American Midland Naturalist 89:287-93.
  4. Evans, F. C., and R. Holdenried. 1943. A population study of the Beechey ground squirrel in central California. Journal of Mammalogy 24:231-260.
  5. Hafner, D. J. 1992. Speciation and persistence of a contact zone in Mojave Desert ground squirrels, subgenus <i>Xerospermophilus</i>. Journal of Mammalogy 73:770-778.
  6. Hall, E. R. 1946. Mammals of Nevada. The University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
  7. Harris, J. H., and P. Leitner. 2004. Home-range size and use of space by adult Mohave ground squirrels, <i>Spermophilus mohavensis</i>. Journal of Mammalogy 85:517-523.
  8. Helgen, K. M., F. R. Cole, L. E. Helgen, and D. E. Wilson. 2009. Generic revision in the holarctic ground squirrel genus <i>Spermophilus</i>. Journal of Mammalogy 90(2):270-305.
  9. Jenkins, S.H. and B.D. Eshelman. 1984. <i>Spermophilus beldingi</i> Mammalian Species, 221:1-8.
  10. Johnson, K. 1981. Social organization in a colony of rock squirrels (<i>Spermophilus variegatus</i>). Southwestern Naturalist 26:237-242.
  11. Larrison, E.J. and D.R. Johnson. 1981. Mammals of Idaho. The University of Idaho Press, Moscow.
  12. Morton, M. L., C. S. Maxwell, and C. E. Wade. 1974. Body size, body composition, and behavior of juvenile Belding ground squirrels. Great Basin Naturalist 34:121-134.
  13. Murie, J. O. 1973. Population characteristics and phenology of a Franklin ground squirrel <i>(Spermophilus franklinii)</i> colony in central Alberta. American Midland Naturalist 90:334-40.
  14. Murie, J. O., and G. R. Michener, editors. 1984. The biology of ground-dwelling squirrels: annual cycles, behavioral ecology and sociality. Univ. Nebraska Press, Lincoln. xvi + 459 pp.
  15. Murie, J. O., and M. A. Harris. 1978. Territoriality and dominance in male Columbian ground squirrels (<i>Spermophilus columbianus</i>). Canadian Journal of Zoology 56:2402-12
  16. Olson, G. S., and B. Van Horne. 1998. Dispersal patterns of juvenile Townsend's ground squirrels in southwestern Idaho. Canadian Journal of Zoology 76:2084-2089.
  17. Owings, D. H., M. Borchert, and R. A. Virginia. 1977. The behaviour of California ground squirrels. Animal Behaviour 25:221-30.
  18. Recht, M. A. 1977. The biology of the Mohave ground squirrel (<i>Spermophilus mohavensis</i>): home range, daily activity, foraging and weight gain, and thermoregulatory behavior. Ph.D. dissertation, University of California, Los Angeles. 117 pp.
  19. Slade, N. A., and D. F. Balph. 1974. Population ecology of Uinta ground squirrels. Ecology 55:989-1003.
  20. Sumner, L., and J.S. Dixon. 1953. Birds and mammals of the Sierra Nevada. University of California Press, Berkeley.
  21. Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.