What did ancient ground squirrels eat during the Pleistocene?

Ancient ground squirrels during the Pleistocene had a big lunch menu, just like you have snacks and dinners.

Think about your favorite snack, maybe it's chips, or candy, or a sandwich. Ancient ground squirrels had lots of options too! They mostly ate plants, things like grasses, seeds, and nuts. It’s like if you only ate cereal for breakfast, but sometimes had cookies or fruit for fun.

They also liked to eat insects, just like how some kids love eating bugs in a jar. And when they could catch them, they would eat small animals, think of it like catching a mouse or a lizard!

These ground squirrels were active and curious, so they moved around a lot to find food. Sometimes they dug in the dirt for roots or bugs, just like you dig through your toy box to find your favorite toy.

They didn’t have to worry about running out of food because there was plenty around, kind of like having a big pantry full of snacks!