Urocitellus columbianus
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
In 3 days >90%
The Columbian ground squirrel (Urocitellus columbianus) is a species of rodent common in certain regions of Canada and the northwestern United States. It is the second largest member of the genus Urocitellus, which is part of the tribe Marmotini, along with marmots, chipmunks, prairie dogs, and other holarctic ground squirrels. They are stout, with short dense fur, which is characteristically tawny across the bridge of the nose. Social encounters sometimes are initiated with kissing behavior and the most common activity above ground is standing at attention. Residing in mountainous terrain and high plains in northern latitudes, they hibernate for 8 to 9 months of the year in burrows, which may be used for many years. They are emaciated when emerging in the spring. The Columbian ground squirrel came to the attention of the scientific community through writings produced by Lewis and Clark, while 21st century molecular genetics has more finely illuminated its ties with other close relatives.
The Columbian ground squirrel is one of the largest members of the genus, the largest being the Arctic ground squirrel. They have a relatively sturdy, robust build. They measure 325... Wikipedia →
Recording1:09
Canada · 2026
© KRL · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
Recording0:12
Canada · 2026
© Liam Ragan · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
Recording0:17
United States · 2026
© Sue Brady · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glacier National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Banff National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 3 | Jasper National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada |
Very likely
About 70% of wildlife watchers report a Columbian Ground Squirrel sighting in Banff National Park on a given day, based on 957 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 3rd most-seen of the 29 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
May to August
In those months about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Columbian Ground Squirrel in Banff National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March and October–January, the lowest months.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Columbian Ground Squirrel sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
2nd of 3
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Columbian Ground Squirrel sightings, Banff National Park ranks 2nd at about 70%. The best odds are in Glacier National Park (United States, about 80%).
Same family: Sciuridae
The closest relatives of the Columbian Ground Squirrel that you can see in Banff National Park (family Sciuridae, Squirrels) are Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (about 70%), American Red Squirrel (about 50%) and Hoary Marmot (about 40%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Columbian Ground Squirrel is recorded against all the mammals logged in Banff National Park (957 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
