Description

• Head and body 5-6 in. (127-152 mm); tail 3-4 in.
• Weight 2 3/10-4 ½ oz (65-127 g)
• Squirrel-like; runs with bushy tail straight up
• Facial stripes
• Side and back stripes end at reddish rump
• Skull has 20 teeth

Habits

Are solitary except for mother and young. Feed on seeds, bulbs, fruits, nuts, insects, meat, eggs; stores food underground. Hibernates, but may come aboveground in the middle of the winter. Their home range is usually less than 10 yards across. They can live 3 or more years in the wild, 8 years in captivity.