The Idaho Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus brunneus) is a species of the largest genus of ground squirrel. There are two subspecies, both in Idaho:
Northern Idaho Ground Squirrel (S. brunneus brunneus)
The Northern subspecies is found in Valley and Adams counties, in about two dozen isolated demes (population groups) occurring at an elevation of between 1150-1550 meters (3775-5075 feet).
Southern Idaho Ground Squirrel (S. brunneus endemicus)
The Southern Idaho Ground Squirrel can be found in an area about 30 by 70 kilometers (48 by 113 miles) extending from Emmett, Idaho, northwest to Weiser, Idaho and the surrounding area of Squaw Butte, Midvale Hill, and Henley Basin in Gem, Payette, and Washington counties. Its range is bounded on the south by the Payette River, on the west by the Snake River and on the northeast by lava flows. Their habitat is typified by rolling hills, basins, and flats at an altitude of between 670-975 meters (2,200-3,200 feet).
Conservation Status: The Idaho ground squirrel is endangered; the subspecies Spermophilusbrunneusbrunneus, the northern Idaho ground squirrel, is critically endangered and the subspecies S.
brunneus endemicus, the southern Idaho ground squirrel, is vulnerable.
Spermophilusbrunneusbrunneus, lives only in about two dozen mountain meadows, and in 1998, biologists counted only 500 of them.
Spermophilus is the generic name that was used by Hershkovitz (1949) to correctly establish this genus.
A relatively small member of the genus Spermophilus, the mean length of northern Idaho ground squirrel males and females is 233 millimeters (mm) (9.25 inches (in)) and 225 mm (8.9 in), respectively.
Although Columbian ground squirrels (Spermophilus columbianus) overlap in distribution with the northern Idaho ground squirrel (Dyni and Yensen 1996), Columbian ground squirrels prefer moister areas with deeper soils.
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