Northern Idaho Ground squirrel (Spermophilus brunneus brunneus)
Kingdom: Animalia Class: Mammalia Order: Rodentia Family: Sciuridae
Listing Status:
General Information
The northern Idaho ground squirrel (Spermophilus brunneus brunneus) is smaller than most ground squirrels at about 8” long. It was listed as a threatened species on April 5, 2000 under the Endangered Species Act. The northern Idaho ground squirrel’s fur is dark reddish-gray (due to a mixture of black unbanded and yellowish-red banded guard hairs), with reddish-brown spots on its coat. It has a short, narrow tail, tan feet and ears, grey-brown throat and a creamy white eye ring. This rare squirrel needs large quantities of grass seed, stems and other green leafy vegetation to store body energy for its eight-month hibernation period from August through late April/May. Adult males emerge first from their burrows first in early spring, and then are followed by females and their young. The northern Idaho ground squirrel is found only in Adams and Valley counties of western Idaho. It occurs in dry meadows surrounded by ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir forests, including lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service’s Payette National Forest (1,500 to 7,500-foot elevations). Today, there are only about 1,000 individual animals in about 45 small isolated populations in this area, including New Meadows, Lost Valley Reservoir, and other nearby locations. It is thought that northern Idaho ground squirrel populations have decreased due to the loss of their native meadow habitat. Because of fire and some fire management practices, development, nonnative plant invasions and loss of understory protection, important “travel corridors” that the squirrels have historically depended on have become fragmented, leaving the ground squirrels to try to survive in isolated “islands” of non-connected habitat. As of 2007, its recovery status remains unknown. Biologists have recorded some new population sites, and the animal seems to be responding to habitat restoration at some locations, but no comprehensive range-wide monitoring has been done to determine the current population trend.
- States/US Territories in which the Northern Idaho Ground squirrel is known to occur: Idaho
- For more information: http://www.fws.gov/policy/library/02fr46440.pdf
» Federal Register Documents
| Date | Citation Page | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 10/18/2006 | 71 FR 61501 61502 | Proposed Low Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the Schwisow Development in Adams County, ID |
| 09/16/2003 | 68 FR 54242 54242 | Availability of the Recovery Plan for the Northern Idaho Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus brunneus brunneus) |
| 07/15/2002 | 67 FR 46440 46441 | Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Northern Idaho Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus brunneus brunneus), for Review and Comment |
| 10/30/2001 | 66 FR 54807 54832 | ETWP; Review of Plant and Animal Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened,Annual Notice of Findings on Recycled Petitions, and Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule |
| 04/05/2000 | 65 FR 17779 17786 | Determination of Threatened Status for the Northern Idaho Ground Squirrel |
» Recovery
Recovery Plan Information Search| Date | Title | Plan Action Status | Plan Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09/16/2003 | Recovery Plan for the Northern Idaho Ground Squirrel | View Implementation Progress | Final |
| Date | Citation Page | Title | Document Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09/16/2003 | 68 FR 54242 54242 | Availability of the Recovery Plan for the Northern Idaho Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus brunneus brunneus) | |
| 07/15/2002 | 67 FR 46440 46441 | Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Northern Idaho Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus brunneus brunneus), for Review and Comment |
» Critical Habitat
No critical habitat rules have been published for the Northern Idaho Ground squirrel.
» Conservation Plans
| HCP Plan Summaries |
|---|
| Schwisow-Price Valley |
| SHA Plan Summaries |
|---|
| OX Ranch Safe Harbor for the northern Idaho ground squirrel |
» Petitions
No petition findings have been published for the Northern Idaho Ground squirrel.
» Life History
No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.
» Other Resources
NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.
ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.
