Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Callospermophilus lateralis
Silhouette: Amanda Kuhlman · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderRodentia (Rodents)
- FamilySciuridae (Squirrels)
- GenusCallospermophilus (Mountain Striped Ground Squirrels)
- SpeciesCallospermophilus lateralis (Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel)
About the Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
The golden-mantled ground squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis) is a ground squirrel native to western North America. It is distributed in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia and Alberta, and through much of the western United States.
This ground squirrel is generally about 23 to 29 cm (9.1 to 11.4 in) in length. The weight range for adults is between 120 and 394 grams (0.26 to 0.86 lbs.) It has whitish or yellow-gray underparts. The tail is brown to black with buff edges and a yellowish to reddish underside. It has pale rings around the eyes. The "mantle" across the shoulders is tawny to reddish, with males having a deeper reddish tinge. This species is distinguished from similar ground squirrels by a black-bordered white stripe down each side of the back and is distinguished from similar looking chipmunks by its lack of facial stripes.
Some authors describe many subspecies of this taxon. This species occurs in forests, chaparral, meadow margins, and sagebrush, especially in areas with many rocks or forest litter that provides shelter. It is associated with many kinds of coniferous trees, aspen, and manzanita.
It is omnivorous, feeding... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel in Banff National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Banff National Park
Columbian Ground Squirrel
Urocitellus columbianus
American Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Hoary Marmot
Marmota caligata
Least Chipmunk
Tamias minimus
Yellow-pine Chipmunk
Tamias amoenus
Northern Flying Squirrel
Glaucomys sabrinus
Richardson's Ground Squirrel
Urocitellus richardsonii
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
Woodchuck
Marmota monax
Quiller
Erethizon dorsatus
American Beaver
Castor canadensis
Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel in Banff National Park?
About 70% of wildlife watchers report a Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel sighting in Banff National Park, based on 1,216 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel in Banff National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel in Banff National Park in our monthly data.