Postirradiation Hibernation and Radiation Response of Ground Squirrels: Telemetry Surveillance

Temperature sensitive radio transmitters were implanted in the abdominal cavity of ground squirrels, Citellus tridecemlineatus. A 72-channel telemetry receiver system was constructed to monitor the hibernation patterns, as reflected in body temperature changes, of 72 squirrels given 1250 rads⁶⁰ Co gamma radiation and 20 nonirradiated controls. Forty-eight squirrels were irradiated while torpid and 24 while active. These groups were equally divided into three postirradiation groups, one group each being maintained for 8 weeks at temperature environments, 5, 13, and 23°C. The results showed the highest levels of survival among squirrels irradiated while torpid and that additional increase in survival may have occurred due to postirradiation hibernation. No significant effect was noted relating to the three postirradiation environments.