The Arctic Ground Squirrel undergoes the most extreme mammalian hibernation known, with body temperatures dropping to -3°C—below the freezing point of water—for weeks at a time without damage, kept viable by suppressed cell metabolism. It hibernates for seven to eight months and is among the primary prey of Arctic foxes, eagles, and grizzly bears when it emerges in spring. Its alarm bark is one of the most characteristic sounds of the Alaskan tundra.
Best time to see a Arctic Ground Squirrel
The best time to see a Arctic Ground Squirrel is June–July, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 1,713 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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