Distribution is tied to water, suggesting that water is perhaps the most important limiting factor. Gets water from food and from drinking. Prefers friable soils for burrowing, but may use adjoining rocky and woody areas for feeding. Belding's ground squirrel usually is found close to a source of water. May. Males enter hibernation first, followed by females, then young of the year.
Females share territory with related females, chasing others away from burrows.
Males fight for access to receptive females. Mating occurs soon after emergence from hibernation. A female that has lost her young to predators may take over a safer site, killing any young at that site. Males may also be cannibalistic, killing unrelated young ground squirrels. Predators include coyotes, bears, badgers, weasels, foxes, hawks, and eagles.