The most common ground squirrel in Nebraska is the 13-lined ground squirrel (Spermophilus tridecemlineatus, literally "seed-eating 13-liner"), also improperly named the "striped gopher". Their habitat includes golf courses, parks, yards; generally closely mowed grassy areas, where they feed primarily on seeds, garden vegetables, flowers, and insects. They dig burrows 15-20 feet long, with two or more entrances, in which they hide from predators, raise litters of 7-10 young, and hibernate in the winter. Thirteen-liners are typically solitary animals, but they may reach a population density of 10 animals per acre.

In 1894 Buffalo County was overrun by ground squirrels, and a bounty of $0.03 was offered to eradicate the problem. A current (1992) estimate suggests that they cause $2M in damage to corn crops, but in 1894 the rodent's burrows also presented a hazard to livestock, which would step into their holes and break a leg. In June and July of that year more than 13,000 "13 liners" were killed at a cost to the county of less than $400.

One can imagine that many of the bounty hunters were children, motivated by the prospect of earning money. Some 13-liners were probably shot, but most squirrels were probably taken by poisoning or drowning. Though the 13-liner took a severe hit in the summer of 1894 it was not eradicated, and survives in gardens and lawns today.

For further reading: NebGuide article -

Here, then, is a list of those who participated in the 1894 attempt to eradicate the Common Ground Squirrel from Buffalo County.