# Big extended families help adult female ground squirrels survive hibernation

- Source: Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories
- Published: 2026-11-04T19:00:19+00:00
- Category: Science
- Original: https://phys.org/news/2026-11-big-families-adult-female-ground.html
- Canonical: https://groundlevelnews.com/story/big-extended-families-help-adult-female-ground-squirrels-survive-hiber-0e89e1/

For Belding's ground squirrels, adult females are more likely to survive from year to year if they live near more adult female kin—but neither males nor young females get the same boost from nearby family. Jill Mateo and colleagues at the University of Chicago, U.S., report these findings on Nov. 4, 2026, in the journal PLOS One.

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