Given the habit of the very photogenic Columbian Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus columbianus)  to stand upright, it’s not surprising that this small mammal is so popular with photographers.

The squirrel is found in western North America, in open and mountainous country such as alpine meadows, high grass plateaus, forest clearcuts and sagebrush plains. It measures about twelve to sixteen inches in length, with a tail of about three to four inches. Like its cousin the prairie dog, the Columbian Ground Squirrel will often stand on its hind legs to survey terrain. This behavior, along with the squirrels’ habit of “kissing” (touching noses and mouths when they meet), makes them a big draw for photographers.

Columbian Ground Squirrels spend fifty percent of their time standing on their hind legs, surveying terrain. Photo: Tina Abtrobus

Facts about the Columbian Ground Squirrel

• It is a “colonial” species. The Columbian Ground Squirrel  gathers in colonies of about 60 squirrels per hectare. The burrows are elaborate, with a hibernation chamber built below the frost line and sometimes a separate chamber that serves as a toilet.
• It can haunt graveyards. In 2022, CBC reported that Columbian Ground Squirrels were causing havoc in the historic graveyards of Old Banff Cemetery and Mountain View Cemetery around Banff, Alberta. The squirrels build their burrows in open spaces, often near boulders, and a graveyard reproduces these features (with headstones standing in for the boulders). The underground network of burrows led to sunken graves and toppled monuments. Municipal workers live-trapped as many squirrels as they could in the spring, but the species’ high reproductive rate makes controlling them a challenge.
• Despite the problems they can cause with their burrowing, ground squirrels are important prey for bears, wolves, coyotes, eagles and other predators. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the Columbian ground squirrel as a species of least concern. Population trends are stable in its range.
• Rarely, it can be black. When hiking in the Sunshine Meadows near Banff, Alberta, in the summer of 2021, Calgary naturalist Brian Keating saw a black Columbian ground squirrel. The squirrel had a genetic condition called melanism, which is not such an advantage for an animal active during the day. It will stand out against its background and become more visible to predators.

The work of our partners in protecting ground squirrel habitat

The Rocky Mountains and foothills constitute prime habitat for Columbian Ground Squirrels. Nature Alberta has been advocating for the creation of new protected areas within the foothills (currently only 1.4% of this region is protected) and for a permanent prohibition on coal mines in the area:

Alberta Nature: Conservation Priorities

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