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ground squirrel
noun
: any of various burrowing North American and Eurasian rodents (especially genus Spermophilus) of the squirrel family that often live in colonies especially in open areas (such as grasslands)
called also spermophile
Examples of ground squirrel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Instead of simply stuffing their cheeks with fruits, nuts or seeds, the California ground squirrels there are now known to hunt, kill, decapitate and consume voles, a fellow rodent species, according to research published Wednesday in the Journal of Ethology.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Dec. 2024
But these California ground squirrels appear to have developed a taste for mammal meat.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 18 Dec. 2024
According to a new paper published in the Journal of Ethology, California ground squirrels have been caught in the act—many times over—of chasing, killing, and eating voles.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 18 Dec. 2024
The owls nest in burrows excavated by California ground squirrels, occasionally popping up to stare with striking yellow eyes.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1688, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near ground squirrel
Cite this Entry
“Ground squirrel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ground%20squirrel. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
ground squirrel
noun
: any of numerous burrowing rodents (as gophers and chipmunks) that differ from true squirrels in having cheek pouches and shorter fur
More from Merriam-Webster on ground squirrel
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ground squirrel
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