Breeding Ground Squirrels, Spermophilus beecheyi, in Captivity

1968 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 781-783 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Marsh ◽  
W. E. Howard
Keyword(s):  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Breeding Ground ◽  
Spermophilus Beecheyi ◽  
In Captivity

Comparison of body weights between captive and free-ranging juvenile Richardson's ground squirrels (Spermophilus richardsoni)

1981 ◽  
Vol 59 (10) ◽  
pp. 1916-1920 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah H. Harding ◽  
Josefine C. Rauch
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Food Availability ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Free Ranging

Body weights of free-ranging and captive juvenile Richardson's ground squirrels (Spermophilus richardsoni) were determined at regular intervals during the nonhibernating season. Animals in captivity gained weight at a faster rate and to a greater extent than those in their natural habitat. Attainment of maximum weights in captive ground squirrels was associated with a reduction in food intake and could not be related to food availability, a change in temperature, or in photoperiod.

Disease Surveillance of California Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi) in a Drive-through Zoo in Oregon, USA

2017 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 667-670
Author(s):  
Julia Ter Beest ◽  
Andrew Cushing ◽  
Modesto McClean ◽  
Wendy Hsu ◽  
Robert Bildfell
Keyword(s):  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Spermophilus Beecheyi ◽  
California Ground Squirrels

scholarly journals Quantitative Shedding of Two Genotypes of Cryptosporidium parvum in California Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi)

2001 ◽  
Vol 67 (6) ◽  
pp. 2840-2843 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward R. Atwill ◽  
Sergio Maldonado Camargo ◽  
Ralph Phillips ◽  
Laura Herrera Alonso ◽  
Kenneth W. Tate ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cryptosporidium Parvum ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Spermophilus Beecheyi ◽  
California Ground Squirrels

ABSTRACT Sixteen percent of California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi) were found to be shedding an average of 53,875Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts/g of feces. Male squirrels had a higher prevalence and higher intensity of shedding than did female squirrels. The majority of C. parvum isolates matched a bovine-murine genotype, with a few isolates resembling a porcine genotype. Higher intensities of shedding by males may enhance dissemination and genotypic mixing of this protozoa given males' proclivity to disperse to nonnatal colonies.

Development of Antisnake Defenses in California Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus Beecheyi): II. Microevolutionary Effects of Relaxed Selection From Rattlesnakes

Behaviour ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 124 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 137-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard G. Coss ◽  
Naomie S. Poran ◽  
Kevin L. Gusé ◽  
David G. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Population Level ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Species Discrimination ◽  
Spermophilus Beecheyi ◽  
Relaxed Selection ◽  
Virtual Absence ◽  
Rare Site ◽  
California Ground Squirrels ◽  
Two Populations

AbstractNonvenomous Pacific gopher snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus catenifer) and venomous northern Pacific rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis oreganus) have coexisted in a predator-prey relationship with California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi) for many thousands of generations. This long-term relationship has fostered in ground squirrels the evolution of antisnake defenses that consist of physiological resistance to rattlesnake venom and behavioral tactics of probing and harassing that might facilitate snake-species discrimination. Snake harassment by adults might also protect pups by interfering with snake hunting activities. Some ground squirrel populations have colonized habitats where rattlesnakes, but not gopher snakes, are rare or absent. Initial research indicates that squirrels experiencing relaxed selection from rattlesnakes are very aggressive toward their remaining nonvenomous snake predator, the gopher snake. Two experiments investigated the effects of relaxed selection from rattlesnakes by examining: 1) changes in level of venom resistance, 2) the reorganization of antisnake behaviors in lab-born pups and wild-caught adults from different sites, and 3) the role of natural experiences on the development of antisnake behavior in a rattlesnake-adapted population. Level of venom resistance was examined by an in vitro radioimmunoassay of serum-to-venom binding of two populations of Douglas ground squirrels (S. b. douglasii). The ancestors of one population are estimated to have experienced relaxed selection from rattlesnakes for about 9,000 years based on genetic distance and radiocarbon analyses. The antisnake behavior of 60-73 day-old lab-born pups from these two populations was video taped during presentations of a caged rattlesnake or gophcr snake for alternate 5-min trials in a seminatural laboratory setting. Two groups of wild-caught adult Beechey groundsquirrels (S. b. beecheyi) were studied using the same protocol for examining antisnake behavior. One group was obtained from a population that recently colonized a rattlesnake-rare site and exhibits moderate venom resistance. The second group came from a population that exhibits very low venom resistance and inhabits a rattlesnake-free site; relaxed selection from rattlesnakes for this population is estimated to span approximately 60,000 years. Comparisons of Douglas ground squirrels from rattlesnake-abundant and rettlesnakerare sites revealed that venom resistance declined approximately 59% after an estimated 9,000 years of relaxed selection from rattlesnakes. Lab-born Douglas pups from the same rattlesnake-rare site were more aggressive toward the gopher snake than toward the rattlesnake whereas pups from the population experiencing predation from both species of snake treated both snakes as similarly dangerous. Unlike pups, wild-caught adults from the rattesnake-adapted population harassed the rattlesnake more intensely than the gopher snake, a phenomenon that may reflect their experience with snakes in nature and larger body size that reduces their vulnerability to envenomation. Wild-caught Beechey ground squirrels that recently colonized a rattlesnake-rare site did not differentiate the rattlesnake and gopher snake whereas Beechey ground squirrels whose ancestors have experienced prolonged relaxed selection from rattlesnakes were more aggressive toward the gopher snake. Consistent with previous findings, prolonged relaxed selection from rattlesnakes, but not gopher snakes, appears to have reduced the inhibition to harass large gopher snakes. This microevolutionary shift in increased aggressiveness toward the gopher snake could result from the virtual absence of any risk in misidentifying rattlesnakes from gopher snakes.

Self- and allo-grooming behavior in some ground squirrels (Sciuridae), a descriptive study

1973 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. L. Steiner
Keyword(s):  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Behavior Patterns ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Grooming Behavior ◽  
Head Region ◽  
Apocrine Glands ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Agonistic Relationships

The different grooming behavior patterns, postures, and body cleaning motions, analyzed by cinephoto techniques, are first described in three species of ground squirrels, studied in captivity and in the field. Most patterns recorded appear to be widespread among mammals. Some of them, however, appear to be more specialized, reflecting apparently the propensity of some rodents, particularly sciurids, to assume a bipedal, sitting-up posture, and to use the forepaws in "manipulating" tasks. Some "cleaning" motions, particularly face washing and rubbing of some body parts with the limbs, might also represent scent-related behavior. Areas that are known to bear secretory apocrine glands, around the mouth corners for instance, are consistently rubbed. Other body areas, particularly the head region (cheeks, supra- and infra-orbital, occipital, and ear areas), one ventrolateral and anterodorsal area and possibly the root of the tail, dorsally, show darker zones, of oily appearance, that might also be involved in scent-related behavior, during grooming. Allogrooming, also, is often directed onto the above-mentioned areas, particularly the ones on the head. Allogrooming can also be affected by dominance/subordination and (or) agonistic relationships.

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