Family SCIURIDAE 139 



In its hibernation, this animal is similar to the thirteen 

 lined ground squirrel. In October or November, it enters hiber- 

 nation, usually not to return above ground until March or April. 



Hawks, badgers, weasels, dogs, man, and other enemies take 

 their toll of the Franklins ground squirrel; speeding cars on 

 highways may take the greatest toll. 



Signs. — Franklin's ground squirrel tracks, sometimes seen 

 along dusty roadsides, are quite similar to those of gray tree 

 squirrels. The print of a hind foot measures about 2 inches and 

 shows five toes, but the print of a front foot, which is shorter, 

 shows only four toes. The location of these tracks, often far 

 from trees, helps to distinguish them from tracks of the gray 

 squirrel. 



The burrow of this animal is usually in tall grass or a weedy 

 spot. It is about 3 inches in diameter, and may have a mound of 

 dirt spread fanwise from it. Usually it is better concealed and 

 larger than that of the thirteen-lined ground squirrel. 



Distribution. — Franklin's ground squirrel is common in what 

 was originally prairie regions in about the northern two-thirds 

 of Illinois. This ground squirrel is unknown or rare south of 

 an imaginary line connecting Clark and Madison counties. No 

 subspecies has been described. The known total range extends 

 from northwestern Indiana and central Illinois northward to 

 central Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, and southward 

 into Kansas and Missouri, fig. 77. It is known in Wisconsin 

 from the southern part of the state. 



TAMIAS STRIATUS (Linnaeus) 

 Eastern Chipmunk 



Description. — The eastern chipmunk, fig. 79, is one of the 

 most colorful Illinois mammals. It is russet on the head, Hanks. 

 and rump, and grayish on the sides and back; it has five black 

 and two light buff stripes on the back. Stripes are present, but 

 less distinct, on the sides of the face. The under parts are whit- 

 ish. The tail, which is bushy and about half as long as head 

 plus body, is about the same color on the upper side as the back 

 and is russet on the under side. Large pouches are present 

 within the cheeks. 



A characteristic call, consisting of a low-pitched cluck or 

 chuck, or a shrill chirp, is usually heard before the chipmunk 



