Thirteen-lined ground squirrels are omnivorous. At least 50% of their diet is animal matter—grasshoppers, wireworms, caterpillars, beetles, cutworms, ants, insect eggs, mice, earthworms, small birds, and other thirteen-lined ground squirrels. The vegetative portion of the diet includes seeds, green shoots, flower heads, roots, vegetables, fruits, and cereal grains. They rarely drink water, depending instead on water contained in their food. They cache large quantities of seeds and grass but never meat. The cached food may be eaten during periods of bad weather or in the late autumn and early spring when other food is scarce.
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Thirteen-lined ground squirrel
