AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Ground squirrels are squirrel-like rodents that usually forage on and nest in the ground. They belong to the genera Sciuridae, the squirrel family. Examples of animals classified as ground squirrels include marmots, prairie dogs, woodchucks (groundhogs), and chipmunks.

Detailed explanation-2: -Squirrels are also endotherms, which means that they can create their own heat through metabolism. This explains why the squirrels maximize their food consumption in preparation for the winter.

Detailed explanation-3: -Chipmunks are small ground-dwelling squirrels. In Missouri, the species is Tamias striatus or the Eastern chipmunk.

Detailed explanation-4: -Burrows provide the ground squirrels a place to retreat, sleep, hibernate, rear their young, and store food. Ground squirrels often dig their burrows along ditches and fencerows around buildings, within and bordering many agricultural crops, and on other uncultivated land.