13-Lined Ground Squirrel/Striped Gopher

Description:

This was a small stripey, probably around 8 inches. He was light brown with dark brown stripes (I didn't count them, but there are supposed to be 13) and a lighter stomach/throat. The darker stripes have rows of light brown dots in them, which also count towards the total of 13.

Habitat:

These are found virtually all over the Midwestern plains. This was taken on the Henry Doorly Zoo grounds in Omaha. One of the "wild" freeloaders living there (330 masl).

Notes:

These have been favorites since I was a kid in NW Iowa. We saw them literally everywhere.