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Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrels

Thirteen-lined ground squirrels inhabit short grasslands in the northern and western prairie regions of the state. They forage for both plant and animal foods on the surface and retreat to the safety and cover of underground burrows. In autumn, they eat more and their body weight doubles with stored fat. During hibernation in an underground chamber, their body temperature drops to just above freezing and their heart rate slows to five beats a minute. - Jim Rathert