February Prey – Piute Ground Squirrel
Piute Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus mollis)
Ground squirrels are truly amazing creatures, and the Piute Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus mollis) is no exception. Hibernating 7 months of the year, these critters are found in particular abundance in southwestern Idaho within the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area.
They form the foundational prey species supporting the greatest concentration of non-colonial nesting raptors in the world.
Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus)
Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) reproduction in the area is closely tied to ground squirrel abundance, and the sheer number of Piute Ground Squirrels within the National Conservation Area supports the largest breeding population of Prairie Falcons in North America.
When Piute Ground Squirrels begin to emerge from their underground burrows every January, a truly unique spectacle can be witnessed in southwestern Idaho. Don’t miss out, and visit your National Conservation Lands today!
1 Comment
Antonia Hedrick 10 years ago
Hello, I am working with the Idaho Bird Observatory at Boise State University. We are partners on bird research and want to request use the Neil Paprocki Piute Ground Squirrel photo for an outdoor sign northwest of Boise, Idaho on public land. It will educate recreational shooters not to shoot at Birds or squirrels in a protected area. We are happy to purchase one-time use if Neil prefers to be paid for educational use. Thank you for your consideration. Antonia