A common medium-sized ground squirrel of California. Major prey for raptors and snakes.

Also called: California Ground Squirrel, Beechey Ground Squirrel

Native status: Native to California

§ Quick facts

SizeBody 23–30 cm; tail 11–18 cm
Weight400–700 g
LifespanWild 3–6 years
OrderRodentia
FamilySciuridae

§ Encyclopedia

The California ground squirrel, also known as the Beechey ground squirrel, is a common and easily observed ground squirrel of the western United States and the Baja California Peninsula; it is common in Oregon and California and its range has relatively recently extended into Washington and northwestern Nevada. Formerly placed in Spermophilus, as Spermophilus beecheyi, it was reclassified in Otospermophilus in 2009, as it became clear that Spermophilus as previously defined was not a natural (monophyletic) group.

Source: Wikipedia — California ground squirrel Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Medium ground squirrel with mottled gray-brown back and white-flecked shoulders; pale belly.

Similar species. Other Otospermophilus species. Chipmunks (smaller, striped).

Voice. Sharp alarm whistles; chatters.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Seeds, nuts, green vegetation; opportunistically takes insects, bird eggs.

Behavior. Common California ground squirrel. Hibernates in some populations. Has evolved partial venom resistance from co-evolution with rattlesnake predators — a textbook predator-prey co-evolution study.

§ Range

California and parts of Oregon

§ Habitat

Open grasslands, agricultural fields

§ Threats

Persecution as pest, habitat loss.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the california ground squirrel is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Support diverse predator populations to control natural rodent numbers.

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§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • American Society of Mammalogists
  • UC Berkeley California Ground Squirrel research
  • IUCN Red List 2016