California Ground Squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi)

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 -

UNITED STATES 
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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Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus)

OTHER NAMES: Striped Gopher, Leopard Grpund Squirrel, Squinny
Latin Etymology: Ictidomys ("weasel mouse") tridecemlineatus ("thirteen lined")

Adult Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) at North Dakota, USA - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: Ictidomys tridecemlineatus tridecemlineatus
Weight: 110-270g  /  Length: 17-29cm
NO UK STATUS/ IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A perculiar elongated looking ground squirrel species with a distinctive alternating stripe and spotted pelt. A diurnal species that will dig burrows up to 20ft long with mutliple side passages, the deepest parts of which are used for hibernation which they will perform for up to six months without needing food or water, although the precise mechanisms for how they achieve this are poorly understood.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Ictidomys
SUBSPECIES: I. t. tridecemlineatus, I. t. pallidus, I. t. parvus, I. t. texensis, I. t. alleni, I. t. hollisteri, I. t. monticola, I. t. arenicola, I. t. blanca

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Found throughout most of the central Lower 48
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in North Dakota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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