Fun European Ground Squirrel Facts For Kids

The European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus), also known as the European souslik, is a small squirrel species that belongs to the genus Spermophilus and is native to the European continent. These squirrels are found throughout eastern Europe and inhabit steppes, grasslands, lawns, parks, and other manmade habitats.Currently, these squirrels are listed as an Endangered species as they have faced a critical population decline due to human interference in the natural habitats. Some of the threats to them are deforestation, the creation of cultivated fields, and large-scale forestry. This serious decline has seen these squirrels lose most of the population in their habitat range in Germany and Poland.Conservation efforts to keep the population intact and prohibitions on the trade of these animals in the pet trade have eventually led them to remain at a stable number and hopefully, in the future, these animals can go back to their old population and reenter the ecosystem naturally.For more relatable content, check out these gopher facts and nutria facts for kids.

What do they prey on? Small vertebrates, eggs, insects

What do they eat? Omnivore

Average litter size? 2-8 pups

How much do they weigh? 4.2-10.5 oz (120-300 g)

How long are they? 6.6-11.8 in (17-30 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Yellowish-gray with a red tint

Skin Type Fur

What were their main threats? Larger Animals, Human Interference

What is their conservation status? Endangered

Where you’ll find them? Savannahs, Grasslands

Locations The Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, Romania, Other European Countries, Serbia

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Spermophilus

Class Mammal

Family Sciuridae

European Ground Squirrel Interesting FactsWhat type of animal is a European ground squirrel?The European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) is a small ground squirrel species that are inhabitants of Southeastern and Eastern Europe. European ground squirrels are diurnal animals and are often found living in colonies that consist of individual burrows.What class of animal does a European ground squirrel belong to?European ground squirrels belong to the mammal class of animals. These squirrels are also known as the European souslik and belong to the family of squirrels under the Sciuridae name, and the genus Spermophilus.How many European ground squirrels are there in the world?The population count of the European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) is unknown due to their status as an Endangered species on the IUCN Red List, meaning that the population in the natural range of habitats of these burrow-digging animals is dangerously low. According to an estimate presented by IUCN, the population count of this species is around 15,000 individuals in Romania and a further 2,750 individuals in the Czech Republic with further small populations scattered throughout the geographic range of South-Eastern Europe.Where does a European ground squirrel live?European ground squirrels are endemic to central and south-eastern Europe with a vast population distribution consisting of breeding and non-breeding individuals.European ground squirrels are found in high altitudes with the Carpathian mountains of Central and Eastern Europe dividing their range of habitats in two. The north-western regions include the Czech Republic, Montenegro, Hungary, and the south-eastern region includes Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, and many other regions.This ground squirrel can be easily found in underground burrows which protects them from predators.What is a European ground squirrel’s habitat?European ground squirrels are ground dwellers and are found in underground burrow sites. These animals spend a good chunk of their time in hibernation and during their short active season, they are found in a grassland range with short vegetation.The European souslik also lives in manmade structures like sports fields, golf courses, and pastures. A habitat range with ample light and well-drained soil is the best burrow site for the European ground squirrel as the burrow is used to hide from predators.During hibernation, each European ground squirrel will occupy a burrow from a large number of burrows available and live in it. This habitat helps them control their body temperature for a suitable period of time to finish their hibernation without any compromises.Who do European ground squirrels live with?The European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) species is a colonial animal and spends a large period of its life living in a small, tightly-knit group. This small group looks out for one another and a loud alarm call can be heard from the habitat in case of an approaching predator.How long does a European ground squirrel live?The European ground squirrel has an average lifespan of six to seven years in captivity and has a two or three year lifespan in the wild. The Arctic ground squirrel, another member of the Sciuridae family related to the European ground squirrel, has an 8-10 year lifespan.How do they reproduce?The European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) has different ages regarding sexual maturity as the females reach sexual maturity when they are nine months of age, and the males reach sexual maturity between the age of one or two years.These squirrels species are monogamous in nature and breed with one mate at a time, even though they will choose a different mate during another breeding season. During this mating period, males will travel in search of a mate while searching for food and once mates have paired up, the males will defend the female from other males.European ground squirrel species reproduce once a year, which occurs over a length of three weeks after they emerge from hibernation.After mating and insemination, the female will go through a gestation period of 27 days before giving birth to pups. The litter size varies depending on the body as older females will give birth to a larger litter than the younger females.What is their conservation status?Currently, the European souslik species is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to a vast population decline of this species over the years as a direct result of human interference related to deforestation and large-scale clearing of land.European Ground Squirrel Fun FactsWhat do European ground squirrels look like?The European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) is a small animal with a slim body and a short bushy tail like the red squirrel, a member of the Sciuridae family. The European ground squirrel has a yellowish-gray dense fur that is tinged with red. Pale, dark spots can be found on the back of these critters. The face is characterized by small rounded ears and large dark eyes. They have sharp claws on their legs that help them in digging burrows. Sexual dimorphism occurs in this squirrel as the males are slightly larger than the female with little to no difference in body shape.How cute are they?Their small stature and cute look make them absolutely adorable to look at. In looks, they resemble the antelope squirrel, which belongs to the Ammospermophilus genus.How do they communicate?European ground squirrels communicate with each other through various vocalizations that are processed in the form of loud calls. These calls are used to indicate the presence of predators.European ground squirrels also use their many senses to perceive the world in the form of touch, vision, and smell.How big is a European ground squirrel?The European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) is a small animal with a body length between 6.6-11.8 in (17-30 cm). The male is often larger than the female due to the sexual dimorphism in these animals.How fast can a European ground squirrel run?Due to a lack of data, not much can be said about how fast this squirrel species can run.How much does a European ground squirrel weigh?The European ground squirrel is a lightweight animal and reaches a maximum bodyweight of 4.2-10.5 oz (120-300 g), which is almost similar to the Japanese squirrel, another member of the Sciuridae family, which also weighs between 3.5-12.3 oz (100-350 g).What are the male and female names of the species?Much like other members of the Sciuridae family, male ground squirrels are called boars, and females are called sows.What would you call a baby European ground squirrel?A baby European souslik, like all squirrel babies, is called a kit, pup, or kitten. Male pups take a longer time to reach sexual maturity than female pups.What do they eat?European ground squirrels are omnivorous creatures and have a wide range of diet that consists of roots, flowers, leaves, voles, house mice, hedgehogs, bird eggs, and fruits.Are they dangerous?No, the European ground squirrels species are not dangerous to humans. However, these animals can harm the ecosystem as a large European ground squirrel distribution can lead to them becoming pests and harming the soil.Would they make a good pet?No! Since the European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) is listed as an Endangered Species on the IUCN Red List, owning or selling these animals is strictly prohibited.Did you know…The UK is one of the very few countries in the world that do not have a local ground squirrel species residing in it.Squirrels are divided into three types, ground squirrels, tree squirrels, and flying squirrels.Squirrels can be found all over the globe excluding the continents of Antarctica and Australia. There have been attempts to introduce squirrels in the Australian continent over the years.The word ‘squirrel’ means shadow tail in Greek.In some cases, squirrels are known to deceive potential thieves by pretending to bury their food.Do ground squirrels eat frogs? No, European ground squirrels do not eat frogs. They do, however, eat small insects.Do European ground squirrels hibernate?Yes, the European souslik, like most other squirrel species, hibernates. These animals hibernate for around 180 days and the hibernation phase starts from August.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our gerbil facts and black rat facts pages.You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable rat coloring pages.

What type of animal is a European ground squirrel?

The European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) is a small ground squirrel species that are inhabitants of Southeastern and Eastern Europe. European ground squirrels are diurnal animals and are often found living in colonies that consist of individual burrows.

Fun European Ground Squirrel Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Small vertebrates, eggs, insects

What do they eat? Omnivore

Average litter size? 2-8 pups

How much do they weigh? 4.2-10.5 oz (120-300 g)

How long are they? 6.6-11.8 in (17-30 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Yellowish-gray with a red tint

Skin Type Fur

What were their main threats? Larger Animals, Human Interference

What is their conservation status? Endangered

Where you’ll find them? Savannahs, Grasslands

Locations The Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, Romania, Other European Countries, Serbia

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Spermophilus

Class Mammal

Family Sciuridae

Fun European Ground Squirrel Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Small vertebrates, eggs, insects

What do they eat? Omnivore

Average litter size? 2-8 pups

How much do they weigh? 4.2-10.5 oz (120-300 g)

How long are they? 6.6-11.8 in (17-30 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Yellowish-gray with a red tint

Skin Type Fur

What were their main threats? Larger Animals, Human Interference

What is their conservation status? Endangered

Where you’ll find them? Savannahs, Grasslands

Locations The Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, Romania, Other European Countries, Serbia

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Spermophilus

Class Mammal

Family Sciuridae

Fun European Ground Squirrel Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Small vertebrates, eggs, insects

What do they eat? Omnivore

Average litter size? 2-8 pups

How much do they weigh? 4.2-10.5 oz (120-300 g)

How long are they? 6.6-11.8 in (17-30 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Yellowish-gray with a red tint

Skin Type Fur

What were their main threats? Larger Animals, Human Interference

What is their conservation status? Endangered

Where you’ll find them? Savannahs, Grasslands

Locations The Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, Romania, Other European Countries, Serbia

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Spermophilus

Class Mammal

Family Sciuridae