A clever, social, and highly adaptable rodent native to the arid and semi-arid regions of southern Africa, including South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana. Unlike the tree-dwelling squirrels many people are familiar with, the Cape ground squirrel is a true ground-dweller, perfectly built for life in open grasslands, dry savannas, and semi-deserts where shade is limited, and temperatures can be extreme.

Its fur is a sandy-brown color, helping it blend into dry landscapes, with a pale belly and a white stripe running down each side of its body. But its most distinctive feature is its large, fluffy tail, which it often holds upright and over its back like a sun umbrella.

Cape ground squirrels are diurnal, meaning they’re active during the day, especially in the cooler mornings and late afternoons. They live in large, complex burrow systems, which provide shelter from predators and extreme heat. These burrows are shared by groups of females and their young, forming tight-knit colonies. Males usually live in bachelor groups or travel between colonies in search of mates. Within their groups, these squirrels are highly social, often seen grooming, playing, and lying close together, especially during cooler hours.

Their diet consists mostly of roots, bulbs, seeds, grasses, and occasionally insects. Because they live in dry regions, they rarely drink water directly—instead, they get most of their moisture from the plants they eat. They use their strong claws to dig for food and are often seen standing upright, scanning the area for predators like snakes, jackals, or birds of prey. When danger is spotted, one squirrel will give an alarm call, prompting the whole group to dash for cover in their burrows.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Botswana

2016

Lesotho

2016

Namibia

2016

South Africa

2016