Ground Squirrels Mystery Cache
OHMIC: Cache is gone and so is the structure it was attached to. Archiving this one.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Small Lock'n Lock
Not at the posted coordinates!
Richardson's Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus
richardsonii) is a North American ground squirrel in
the genus Spermophilus. Like a number of
other ground squirrels, unfortunately, they are
sometimes called "gophers", though this name belongs
strictly to the pocket gophers of family Geomyidae.
It was named after the Scottish naturalist Sir John
Richardson. They come in many varieties and
colors. The state of North Dakota was
nicknamed after the ground squirrel: The Flickertail
State.
The Richardson's Ground Squirrel is native to
the short grass prairies and found mainly in the
northern states of the United States, such as North
Dakota, and in southern Canada, such as southern Alberta and
Southern Saskatchewan. The range of this
animal expanded as forests were cleared to create farm
land. They are not simply restricted to prairie,
sometimes adapting to suburban environments,
causing them to be seen as pests from the burrows they dig.
It is not unusual to find them digging tunnels
even under the sidewalks and patios in urban
zones.
Typical adults are about 30 cm long. Weights
greatly vary with time of year and with
location: at emergence from hibernation the squirrels
weigh between 200 and 400 grams, but by the time they
hibernate again this may have risen to nearly
750 grams; males are slightly larger and heavier than
females on average. They are dark brown on the
upper side and tan underneath. The tail is shorter and less
bushy than in other ground squirrels, and the external ears are so
short as to look more like holes in the animal's head. Behavior is
more like that of a prairie dog than a typical ground squirrel. The
tail is constantly trembling, so the animal is sometimes called the
"Flickertail".
Although they are territorial around their nest sites, the burrows
of Richardson's Ground Squirrels are grouped closely
together in colonies, and individuals give audible alarm
calls when possible predators approach. Recent research has shown
that in some cases, ultrasonic alarm calls are given, and are
responded to by other members of the colony. Offspring
genetically have the same calls as their parents so parents
can pick up on their own offspring's call when they are in
danger.
Adult Ground squirrels may hibernate as early as July,
though in their first year, the young Ground
squirrels do not hibernate until September.
The males emerge from hibernation in March, and establish
territories before the females emerge a couple of weeks later. The
young, up to 8 in a litter, are born in April or May.
Abandoned burrows are sometimes taken over by
other grassland species such as the burrowing owl.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ernq gur grkg
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