The Alashan yellow rat was originally listed as a subspecies of the Daurian yellow rat, and became an independent valid species in 1975. It lives in grasslands and semi-desert environments. It is diurnal. It feeds on the roots, stems, leaves and seeds of herbaceous plants, and also eats insects. It is a great harm to grasslands and crops, and is also a host of some infectious diseases (such as plague virus, etc.).
Alashan yellow squirrels mainly live in deserts, semi-desert grasslands, near farmlands, cemeteries and valley banks. They are generally active during the day, active frequently in the early morning and evening, prefer warmth and avoid heat, and hibernate in winter. After leaving the cave, they are good at standing upright and looking out. The range of activity is generally no more than 100 meters. Except for the mating period, they like to live alone, and the cave structure is complex. They feed on the green parts of herbaceous plants, and also eat the seedlings of crops, and sometimes eat grass roots and the larvae of certain insects.
Alashan yellow rats usually hibernate from late September to late March of the following year. They reproduce once a year, mate in spring, and have a gestation period of about 28 days, giving birth to 6 to 8 pups.
Listed in the National Three Protected Animals List
