High Spring Mortality of Adult Richardson’s Ground Squirrels, Urocitellus richardsonii, Associated with a Severe Rainstorm in Southwestern Saskatchewan

Authors

  • Gilbert Proulx Alpha Wildlife Research & Management Ltd., 229 Lilac Terrace, Sherwood Park, Alberta T8H 1W3

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v126i2.1331

Keywords:

Richardson’s Ground Squirrel, Urocitellus richardsonii, Spermophillus richardsonii, natural mortality, spring rainstorm, weather, Saskatchewan

Abstract

Heavy rains with strong winds in southwestern Saskatchewan from 20 to 29 May 2010 flooded fields where adult Richardson’s Ground Squirrels (Urocitellus richardsonii) had recently been live–trapped. Natural mortality rates in six marked populations (n = 11 to 29 animals) ranged from 9.1 to 42.9%. The mean mortality rate of populations (28.9%) was significantly greater than that estimated for four populations (8.5%) studied in April and May 2007 and 2008 during drought periods. This finding is in agreement with past studies on other ground squirrel species which showed that spring snowstorms and heavy rains caused an increase in natural mortality rates.
Cover photo - Western Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens auricollis)

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Published

2012-11-29

Issue

Vol. 126 No. 2 (2012)

Section

Notes

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