[2] The northern Idaho ground squirrel has sexual dimorphism and a dark-reddish gray coat.

[2] The squirrel hibernates for 8 months and lives in dry meadows in Adams and Valley Counties in western-central Idaho.

[2] Some of the northern Idaho ground squirrel's qualities include tan feet and ears, a tail, a brownish-grey throat, and a white eye ring.

[3] The squirrel's active season is from April to July, and then the species spends the rest of the year hibernating.

The habitat of the northern Idaho ground squirrel consists of dry rocky meadows.

Ground with deep soil and scattered with ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir forests at the elevation between 915 and 1,650 meters is the preferred habitat of the squirrels.

[4] Original vegetation in the habitat of the NIDGS was big sage brush, bitterbrush, native bunch grasses, and forbs, but now the area contains cheatgrass and medusahead.

[12]During the winter, the NIDGS hibernates in environments with larger coverage compared to the active season habitats.

[14] Consistent logging efforts in the habitats of northern Idaho ground squirrels has caused the forests to grow back thicker, leaving no open space for the species.

The most recent numbers from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game suggest the total population of the species is about 2000 individuals.

[9] The most recommended option for conserving the northern Idaho ground squirrel is habitat restoration.

Fish & Wildlife Service put a recovery plan for the northern Idaho ground squirrel in place in 2003.

[3] The plan is also using a captive breeding program, in case the effort to increase the wild populations fails.

[3] 32 acres of land in the Payette National Forest received prescribed fire for the NIDGS habitat.