The white-tailed antelope squirrel, aka antelope squirrel, antelope ground squirrel, or white-tailed antelope ground squirrel, hails from the southwestern United States as well as northern Mexico and Baja Californian islands. They face the threat of urban expansion in rapidly growing desert communities, alongside agricultural development, which alters and fragments their natural arid scrubland habitats. Extended desert droughts brought on by climate change directly decreases the availability of the green vegetation and succulent plants they depend on for food and essential metabolic moisture. Populations isolated on islands in the Gulf of California (like Espiritu Santo) face severe threats from human disturbance and predation by introduced feral cats. Lastly, in rare circumstances where the desert borders agricultural land, they are targeted as agricultural pests due to crop consumption and the burrowing damage they can cause. However, despite all these threats, they are abundant enough to be listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Their population trend is listed as stable.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Ammospermophilus leucurus
Weight: Up to 6 ounces
Length: Up to 6.7 inches, plus up to a 4 inch tail
Lifespan: Up to 11 years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) They are highly susceptible to a diverse array of ectoparasites, including ticks, fleas, mites, and lice, which can directly affect individual health and survival.
2.) A common characteristic of these squirrels is that their tails are often arched forward over their back.
3.) There are 5 recognized subspecies of antelope squirrels: Harris’s antelope squirrel, Espíritu Santo antelope squirrel, Texas antelope squirrel, San Joaquin antelope squirrel, and the white-tailed antelope squirrel.
4.) These squirrels are diurnal (active during the day).
5.) Burrows and tunnels are constructed themselves, and can extend up to 2 feet deep and up to 13 feet long.
But wait, there’s more on the white-tailed antelope squirrel!
6.) This species of squirrel is promiscuous (mates with multiple partners).
7.) Females undergo up to a 35 day gestation (pregnancy) that can yield up to 14 pups!
Did you know…?
This species has larger feet than other antelope squirrels, which allows them to quickly evade and escape predators.
8.) They prefer hot, dry, and rocky deserts or shrubland habitats that provide sandy or gravelly soil for digging underground shelters.
9.) These squirrels are important dispersers of seeds in the dry, shrubby deserts they dwell in. They engage in a behavior known as caching, where seeds, fruits, and vegetation are stored in burrows or special hiding spots for feasting on at a later date.
10.) Being omnivores (eat plant and animal matter) they will feed on arthropods, various insects, and even carrion (dead animals). They also feast on green vegetation, fruits, and seeds.
But wait, there’s still more on the white-tailed antelope squirrel!
11.) Even though they don’t hibernate, they will enter into torpor (a state of physical or mental inactivity, sluggishness, or a total lack of energy) if the temperatures drop too low or get too high.
12.) They are known to emit shrill alarm calls when predators are nearby to warn others of the incoming threat.
13.) These squirrels are preyed on by hawks, owls, roadrunners, coyotes, kit foxes, badgers, bobcats, weasels, gopher snakes, and rattlesnakes.
Now a Short White-Tailed Antelope Squirrel Video!
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Some source material acquired from: Wikipedia & IUCN
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