During which season do ground squirrels primarily eat green vegetation?

Ground squirrels primarily consume green vegetation during the late winter and into the spring. This is the time when new plant growth becomes available, offering a rich source of nutrients after the dormant winter months. The timing is crucial for their life cycle, as they need to replenish their energy reserves and prepare for the breeding season, which typically follows the availability of fresh green food.

In late winter and spring, temperatures start to rise, leading to the growth of various plants; this is when ground squirrels actively seek out these food sources to sustain their population. In contrast, late spring may not provide as much fresh green vegetation as in earlier spring, whereas early winter and summer do not align with this peak feeding period for ground squirrels.