Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for
Date of this Version
December 1979
Abstract
There are 22 recognized species of ground squirrels in North America (Jones et al. 1975). All belong to the genera Spermophilus or Ammospermophilus. Some species contain as many as 14 subspecies, or races. In many cases, these subspecies are distinguished not only by morphological or distributional characters, but by behavioral differences and varying ecological strategies, as well. These latter frequently impact on the efficacy of various control methods.