page_title: Round-tailed ground squirrel
section_title: Social structure
hierarchical_section_title: Round-tailed ground squirrel / Social structure
caption_attribution_description: A Round-tailed Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus tereticaudus) munches the seed pods of a Velvet Mesquite (Prosopis veluntina). Photo taken in Tucson, AZ
context_page_description: The round-tailed ground squirrel, known as "Ardillón cola redonda" in Spanish, live in the desert of the Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico. They are called "ground squirrels" because they burrow in loose soil, often under mesquite trees and creosote bushes.
context_section_description: They have a semi-colonial social structure, and will alert others of impending danger with a high-pitched alarm call.  But they will chase away other ground squirrels who get too close to their own burrow.  The males are dominant during the breeding season (January through March).  The females dominate during the raising of the young (March and April).
caption: A ground squirrel munches a velvet mesquite pod
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