The Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel is a slender, striped and spotted ground squirrel of central North American grasslands that hibernates in one of the most physiologically extreme torpor states known—its heart rate drops to 5 beats per minute and body temperature falls near freezing. It is associated with short-mowed grasslands and is a familiar sight on golf courses and lawns throughout the Midwest. This species has been studied extensively as a model organism for biomedical research into organ preservation and surgical hypothermia.
Best time to see a Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
The best time to see a Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel is May–July, when about 65% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 4,919 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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