Patriotic Squirrels
- Caleb Venturo
- May 7
- 2 min read
Small creatures are scuttling through the grasses. At first glance, they are almost impossible to see. They perfectly blend in to their habitat – grassy lawns and fields. They nibble at grasses and seeds, catching the occasional insect, until a little before sunset when they retreat into their burrows.
These animals are quite easy to identify once you spot them. Thirteen dark and light stripes run along their backs, with small tan spots on the dark stripes. Because of this coloration, which is patterned like the American Flag, they are sometimes called Federation Squirrels, but their real name is the Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel.
In late summer, these ground squirrels will put on lots of fat and store extra food. They curl up in their burrows in September and hibernate until March or April. During hibernation, the heart rate, body temperature, and respiration rate will drop very low. In fact, breathing drops down to 1 breath every 5 minutes! Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrels are some of the longest hibernators.
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrels live throughout the central US, but the ones we found were near Westcliffe, Colorado. In fact, our site was backed right up to a small colony of them! It’s amazing to learn how God has perfectly equipped each animal to survive, without one worry or need. It reminds me of what Jesus said in Matthew 6:26: “ ‘Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?’” If God takes care of even the smallest animal, than He surely cares for us, who are of much more value than they.
Interesting Fact: Although ground squirrels feed mainly on plants and insects, they will also attack and eat mice, shrews, and bird eggs!!
Photos by Joshua Venturo.
Information from:
Tekiela, Stan. Mammals of Colorado Field Guide. Cambridge, MN: Adventure Publications, 2007.
Whitaker, John O., Jr. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc, 1980.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Used by permission. All rights reserved.
