Interesting Facts About Arctic Squirrel
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Arctic ground squirrels are burrowing rodents that resemble prairie dogs, with small ears, a flat tail, and a white-spotted back
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They are obligate hibernators that can spend up to nine months hibernating, from early October to mid-April
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During hibernation, they can supercool their bodies to -2.9 degrees, which is lower than any other mammal in hibernation
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They can keep their brain just above freezing while their bodies drop below freezing, a condition called supercooling
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As summer progresses, they put on a tremendous amount of fat stores for the winter
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Arctic ground squirrels often double their body weight by the time they enter hibernation in fall
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Native to the Arctic and Subarctic of North America and Asia, they live in scattered colonies to help keep a watch for predators
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They are the largest ground squirrels in North America, weighing between 524-1500 grams and measuring up to 495 mm long
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ndtv.com