(Poliocitellus franklinii)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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NatureServe | N5 - Secure SNR - Unranked |
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Minnesota | not listed Species in Greatest Conservation Need |
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Description |
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Franklin’s ground squirrel is a medium-sized squirrel but a large ground squirrel. It is the largest and darkest ground squirrel in its range. It occurs in the tallgrass prairie region in the United States from North Dakota and Minnesota in the north to Kansas and Indiana in the south, and in Canada from central Alberta to southern Manitoba. It is considered scarce in Minnesota. It is found in and around tallgrass prairies in areas with tall vegetation including edges of fields and prairies, open woodlands, and edges of marshes. Franklin’s ground squirrel is superficially similar in appearance to an eastern gray squirrel but it is smaller and has a shorter, less bushy tail, shorter ears, and a more pointed snout. The body is slender, elongated, and 14″ to 16″ in total length, including a 4″ to 6″ tail. Males are heavier than females. The coat (pelage) is short and dark gray with pale and dark flecks. There is a brownish wash over the back and rump. The underside may be yellowish-white, gray, or brownish-gray. The ears are short and egg-shaped. The female has 10 to 12 mammae. The skull has 22 teeth. |
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Size |
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Total length: 14″ to 16″ Head and body: 9″ to 10″ Tail: 4″ to 6″ |
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Sign |
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Similar Species |
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Habitat |
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Areas with tall vegetation; edges of fields and prairies, open woodlands, edges of marshes |
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Biology |
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Behavior |
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Franklin’s ground squirrel spends most of its time in an underground burrow that can be up to 8 feet deep. It is tolerant of humans and can be seen at camp sights, in state parks, and at dumps. It does not stand upright when alarmed. |
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Lifespan |
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7.2 years (in captivity) |
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Life Cycle |
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Males hibernate from August to late March or April. Females enter hibernation later and emerge later in the spring. |
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Food |
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Omnivorous. Plant leaves, stems, seeds, and fruit; ground nesting bird eggs; insects; and small animals, including other ground squirrels. |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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5/11/2022 | ||||
Occurrence |
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Scarce |
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Taxonomy |
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Class | Mammalia (mammals) | ||
Subclass | Theria | ||
Infraclass | Eutheria (placental mammals) | ||
Superorder | Euarchontoglires (primates, rodents, and allies) | ||
Clade | Glires (rodents and rabbits) | ||
Order | Rodentiia (rodents) | ||
Suborder | Sciuromorpha (squirrels, dormice, and mountain beavers) | ||
Family |
Sciuridae (squirrels) | ||
Subfamily |
Xerinae (ground and African tree squirrels) | ||
Tribe | Marmotini (holarctic ground squirrels) | ||
Genus |
Poliocitellus | ||
Franklin’s ground squirrel is the only species in the genus Poliocitellus. |
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Synonyms |
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Citellus franklinii Spermophilus franklinii |
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Common Names |
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Franklin’s ground squirrel gray gopher |
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Glossary
Pelage
The coat of a mammal, consisting of fur, wool, or hair, and including a soft undercoat and stiff guard hairs.
Visitor Photos |
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This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption. |
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Lane Keller |
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From mid-April to beginning of October you often find this type rodent running around in the state park for scraps of food to store for winter. One of few places in Minnesota I recall finding the Franklin’s Ground Squirrel often. |
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Becky Utecht |
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Lisa Olson-McDonald |
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Very tame ground squirrel near the entrance of the Rustic Cabin Shop. |
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Lynn Rubey |
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A Franklin's Ground Squirrel in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge between Pool 7 and the West Pool. This one seemed very curious about us but also a bit wary. |
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A Franklin's Ground Squirrel foraging for leaves in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge before disappearing in the under brush along side the auto tour road. Franklin's ground squirrel (Poliocitellus franklinii) is a species of squirrel native to North America, and the only member of the genus Poliocitellus. Due to the destruction of prairie, the populations of Franklin's ground squirrel have dwindled, approaching levels of concern. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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Franklin's Ground Squirrel (Sciuridae: Poliocitellus/Spermophilus franklinii) Showing Caution Carl Barrentine |
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About
Published on Aug 19, 2010 Photographed at the Kellys Slough NWR, North Dakota (19 August 2010). Go here to learn more about this species: http://kufs.ku.edulibres/mammals_of_kansas/sperm-frank.html |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this mammal. |
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This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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Eli Jutz 5/20/2023 |
Location: New Prague |
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Anne 8/18/2022 |
Location: South Birch Lake near Babbitt. |
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Patricia Kuper 7/25/2022 |
Location: Remer Mn He lives under my wife and I shed. |
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Liz Auchter 7/22/2022 |
Location: Hwy 35 near Wrenchall (Carleton County) at a rest stop heading north. Several spotted surrounding bathrooms. Very friendly and confident around people. |
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Birgitta Anderson 5/10/2022 |
Location: Split Rock Lighthouse State Park near the backpacking campsites. |
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Lane Keller 5/5/2022 |
Location: Lake Bemidji State Park From mid-April to beginning of October you often find this type rodent running around in the state park for scraps of food to store for winter. One of few places in Minnesota I recall finding the Franklin’s Ground Squirrel often. |
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Becky Utecht 7/25/2021 |
Location: Gooseberry Falls State Park Campground |
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Lisa Olson-McDonald 6/9/2021 |
Location: On the lawn in front of the Rustic Cabin Shop (8 miles south or Orr, Hwy 53) Very tame, was grazing near the front door of the store. |
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Lynn Rubey 6/24/2019 |
Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge A Franklin's Ground Squirrel in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge between Pool 7 and the West Pool. This one seemed very curious about us but also a bit wary. |
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Lynn Rubey 6/22/2019 |
Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge A Franklin's Ground Squirrel foraging for leaves in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge before disappearing in the under brush along side the auto tour road. Franklin's ground squirrel (Poliocitellus franklinii) is a species of squirrel native to North America, and the only member of the genus Poliocitellus. Due to the destruction of prairie, the populations of Franklin's ground squirrel have dwindled, approaching levels of concern. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created: 6/27/2019
Last Updated: