OTHER NAMES: Beechey Ground Squirrel, Beechey Marmot
Latin Etymology: Otospermophilus ("ear seed lover") beecheyi (for Frederick William Beechey)
Adult California Ground Squirrel (subspecies O. b. beecheyi) at Berkeley, California - August 2022
Featured Subspecies: Otospermophilus beecheyi beecheyi
Weight: 280-738g / Length: 33-51cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern
Probably the most commonly seen wild terrestrial mammal of my visit to California, the California Ground Squirrel is a large ground dwelling rodent that has adapted fairly well to human habitation. They live in self excavated burrows, and rarely move far from the entrance to it. In colder parts of their range they do hibernate. They do sometimes climb small shrubs to feed.
Related Species:
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Otospermophilus
SUBSPECIES: O. b. atricapillus, O. b. beecheyi, O. b. fisheri, O. b. nesioticus, O. b. nudipes, O. b. parvulus, O. b. rupinarum, O. b. sierrae
- Sighting Locations -
Found primarily in California, also in Western Oregon and into Washington and Nevada
- CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at San Jose, Berkeley and Hayward
Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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