# California Ground Squirrel (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) California Ground Squirrels are playful little animals that love to dig and explore. They have fluffy tails and are often seen in parks and grassy areas, where they enjoy the sunshine and munch on seeds. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 38 - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Beechey's Ground Squirrel ![California Ground Squirrel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/CA_Ground_Squirrel_on_rock.jpg&width=800) Photo: Holly Cheng, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CA_Ground_Squirrel_on_rock.jpg) ## Appearance The California Ground Squirrel has mottled grey-brown fur with light speckles on its back, blending into a lighter belly. A distinctive pale gray ring often encircles its eyes, and its sides and shoulders can show a reddish-brown tint. It has a relatively bushy, medium-length tail. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Sciuridae - **Genus:** Otospermophilus ## Interesting facts - California Ground Squirrels communicate using at least six different alarm calls, each meaning something specific! - They estivate, a deep sleep during hot summer months, to conserve energy. - They plug burrow entrances with soil to keep out predators and stay safe. - They rub shed snake skin on themselves to mask their scent from lurking predators. ## Special abilities - **Snake Survivor:** California Ground Squirrels can neutralize rattlesnake venom because they have special proteins in their blood, helping them survive bites. - **Tail Talk:** California Ground Squirrels can wave their bushy tails and heat them up to create a 'hot' signal that helps confuse and deter rattlesnakes. - **Super Diggers:** California Ground Squirrels can excavate complex burrow systems that provide shelter from predators and extreme weather. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 33-44 cm - **Weight:** 0.3-0.9 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-6 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Litter Size:** 5-11 - **Gestation:** 25-32 days ## Diet & Feeding Mainly eats plants, seeds, and insects, helping to spread seeds and control insect populations. - **Primary Foods:** Seeds, Nuts, Grasses, Leaves, Fruits, Insects - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Gopher Snake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gopher-snake) (*Pituophis catenifer*) — Young squirrels are prey for gopher snakes. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Hawks hunt adult and young ground squirrels. - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Coyotes are common predators of ground squirrels. - **Shelter:** [Burrowing Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/burrowing-owl) (*Athene cunicularia*) — Owls use abandoned ground squirrel burrows for nesting. - **Eats:** [Coast Live Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coast-live-oak) (*Quercus agrifolia*) — Squirrels consume and cache the acorns of oaks. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Watch from a distance and don't try to touch or feed them, as they are wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify California Ground Squirrel? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is California Ground Squirrel? 33-44 cm ### How much does California Ground Squirrel weigh? 0.3-0.9 kg ### How long does California Ground Squirrel live? 2-6 years ### How fast can California Ground Squirrel move? 25 km/h ### What does California Ground Squirrel eat? Mainly eats plants, seeds, and insects, helping to spread seeds and control insect populations. ### Where is California Ground Squirrel usually found? Grasslands ### How does California Ground Squirrel hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Atchison Village](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/atchison-village) — California, US · Neighborhood - [Franks Tract State Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/franks-tract-state-recreation-area) — California, US · State Park - [Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-tahoe-basin-management-unit) — Nevada, US · Forest - [Presidio Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/presidio-park) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [SeaWorld San Diego](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/seaworld-san-diego) — California, US · Aquarium - [SeaWorld San Diego](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/seaworld-san-diego-california) — California, US · Zoo [View all places to see California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/california-ground-squirrel) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [Brown Rat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-rat) (*Rattus norvegicus*) --- Source: [California Ground Squirrel: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel)