Cape Ground Squirrel

Xerus inauris

The Cape ground squirrel (Xerus inauris) is a social ground squirrel of southern African drylands, grasslands, and open scrub. It has a pale body, dark-edged ears, strong digging claws, and a long bushy tail that can be lifted like a shade over the back in intense sun. Colonies live in burrow systems and spend daylight hours foraging for seeds, roots, bulbs, grasses, and occasional insects. Their upright posture and alert calls make them conspicuous in open country where cover is limited.

Human care is mainly zoo, research, or wildlife management rather than pet keeping. Captive Cape ground squirrels need deep diggable substrate, secure barriers below ground, social housing, gnawing material, sun and shade choices, and diets that avoid both obesity and mineral imbalance. Field researchers may study burrow use, alarm behavior, reproduction, and interactions with grazing livestock. On farms or reserves, management is usually about coexistence and habitat condition rather than eradication, since burrows influence soil turnover and provide shelter opportunities for other small animals.