Spermophilus franklinii
Franklin's ground squirrel

Franklin's ground squirrels live in the northern part of the American tallgrass prairie. They occur from the southwest of Ontario west to central Manitoba, south through central North Dakota and central Kansas. They are found as far east as west-central Indiana, and northwest to the Lake Michigan shore in the Michigan City-Chicago area. They also occur through southern Wisconsin and central Minnesota. (Baker, 1983)

Franklin's ground squirrel can be found in the tallgrass prairie areas of the northcentral United States and adjacent parts of Canada. They live at the border between grassy areas and woody vegetation because of the diverse food sources available (Baker, 1983). These squirrels are not often seen because of their preference for densely vegetated areas.

Franklin's ground squirrels are larger than the average ground squirrel. They have a slender and elongated body that measures 355 to 410 mm in total length, tail length measures 120 to 158 mm. The pelage is and short salt-and-pepper colored and the tail is bushy. The head and tail are grayish as a result of of alternating bands of black and white on the individual hairs. The feet are pale gray and the ears are short and ovate. Males are heavier than females and winter and summer weights vary significantly. Males range from 370 to 500 g in spring, upon emerging from hibernation to 570 to 950 g in late fall, before entering hibernation. Female weights range from 340 to 425 g in spring and 500 to 760 g in fall. (Baker, 1983; Nowak,1991)

Franklin's ground squirrels lack the noisy and "curious" actions that are apparent in their relatives, they are relatively inconspicuous. Franklin's ground squirrels don't usually stand in an upright position, as their relatives do when alarmed. Instead they immediately seek refuge in their burrows.

Franklin ground squirrels are most active on bright, sunny days. They are estimated to spend approximately 10% of their time above ground. They usually inhabit an area that is about 300 feet in diameter. They dig ground burrows that may extend as much as 8 ft underground, and that have several branches and openings. Burrows can be found in tall grass or weed cover, on rocky slopes, on railroad embankments, and under logs, rocks, and fences.

Franklin's ground squirrels can swim and climb trees. They are less social than other ground squirrel species but do often live in loose aggregations.

They have been know to make a variety of calls, suggesting gregarious relationship. The meaning of the calls is not know, but they are described as being clear and musical.

Franklin's ground squirrels put on a heavy layer of fat in the late summer for sustenance during winter hibernation. By late September, each squirrel has selected an underground spot for hibernation. It hibernates through the winter and emerges in late March or early April. (Baker, 1983; Nowak, 1991)

Franklin's ground squirrels' diet consists of tough vegetable fibers and hard-shelled seeds and fruits. They feed on the vegetative parts of grasses, clovers, mustard, dandelion, strawberry, thistle and other plants. Seeds and fruits as well as cultivated crops such as corn, oats, wheat and a variety of garden vegetables are also part of their diet. Franklin's ground squirrels also eat some animal material, including beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, crickets, ants, small birds, ducks, deer mice, frogs, toads, birds' or ducks' eggs, and even other ground squirrels. (Baker, 1983)

Franklin's ground squirrel are sometimes considered nuisances to prairie farmers and gardeners. In years with a high population of Franklin's ground squirrels, they have been seen as serious competitors for agriculturists' grains and vegetables (Jones and Birney, 1988; Baker, 1983)

Franklin's ground squirrels disperse the seeds of many plant species.

Franklin's ground squirrels are relatively rare throughout their range, though they may be locally abundant. In recent decades populations throughout the midwestern United States have declined dramatically. They are now listed as endangered in Iowa, a species of special concern in Wisconsin, rare in Iowa, and populations in Illinois are in decline.

(Pergams, 2002)

Franklins' ground squirrel population peaks occur every four to six years. The population grows from eight squirrels per acre to as many as 30 squirrels per acre.

Franklin's ground squirrels encounter many predators, including the red-tailed hawk, red fox, badger, coyote, striped skunk, mink, and long-tailed weasel (Baker, 1983).