They are not simply restricted to prairie; sometimes they adapt to suburban environments, causing them to be seen as pests because of the burrows they dig.

The tail is shorter and less bushy than in other ground squirrels, and the external ears are so short as to look more like holes in the animal's head.

[6] Richardson's ground squirrels appear to live communally, but they organize their social structure around female kinship.

The burrows of Richardson's ground squirrels are grouped closely together in colonies, and individuals give audible alarm calls when possible predators approach.

[9] These animals are omnivores, eating seeds, nuts, grains, grasses and insects (especially crickets, caterpillars and grasshoppers).

Because they will readily eat crop species, Richardson's ground squirrels are sometimes considered to be agricultural pests, although this is not their legal status in all jurisdictions.

[12] In areas with few natural predators, overpopulation and increasing density can drive ground squirrels to expand into suburban neighborhoods.

Farmers and ranchers have developed a variety of ways to exterminate ground squirrels besides trapping, shooting and poisoning.

The Saskatoon Wildlife Federation sponsored a 12-week "gopher derby" in 2002, in an effort to reduce what it considered an overpopulation of the squirrels.

The Gopher Hole Museum in Torrington, Alberta, Canada, has a large selection of stuffed ground squirrels of many varieties and colors.