Ground squirrels are found in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. Ground squirrels differ from the European squirrel in that they don't climb trees, but live on the ground and in their widespread underground caves. They feed on grass seeds, leaves and roots. Ground squirrels are identifiable by their white stripes along the sides, bushy tail, which offers them shade.