The Cape Ground Squirrel project has been examining themes of sociality, reproduction, and cognition in this diurnal, social rodent since 2012. Found in semi-arid environments like the Kalahari, these generalist omnivores forage primarily on vegetation and cache food around their burrows. They live in female-led groups with offspring, inhabiting large burrow clusters used for shelter and rearing young. Recent research has focused on how seasonality and environmental conditions affect social behavior and reproduction.
