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Otospermophilus beecheyi

(Richardson, 1829)

California Ground Squirrel

GNRUnranked Found in 142 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
GNRUnrankedGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1342190
Element CodeAMAFB051A0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderRodentia
FamilySciuridae
GenusOtospermophilus
Concept Reference
Phuong, M. A., M. C. Lim, D. R. Wait, K. C. Rowe, and C. Moritz. 2014. Delimiting species in the genus Otospermophilus (Rodentia: Sciuridae), using genetics, ecology, and morphology. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 113(4):1136-1151.
Taxonomic Comments
Phuong et al. (2014) support the conclusions from Álvarez-Castañeda and Cortés-Calva (2011) and synonymize Otospermophilus atricapillus with O. beecheyi. In addition, Phuong et al. (2014) elevate the northern lineage of O. beecheyi to a separate species, Otospermophilus douglasii.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Found in a wide variety of habitats. Usually in open areas in many plant communities in all life zones up to the Hudsonian. Sleeps and rears young in underground burrow. Digs deep burrow usually under protective object (log, rock, building, bush) if available, or in open.

Ecology

Usually in loose colonies. About 1/3 to 3/4 of a population consists of yearlings (see Boellstorff and Owings 1995). May carry fleas that transmit sylvatic plague. Predators include dogs, coyotes, and large hawks. Home range usually is less than 50 m across (Burt and Grossenheider 1964). In west-central California, mean home range size was 300-400 sq m in males, 600-900 sq m in females; home ranges overlapped (Boellstorff and Owings 1995).

Reproduction

Breeding occurs soon after hibernation. Gestation lasts 25-30 days. Litter size averages about 6-7. In the lowlands, females usually produce one litter per year. The young are born hairless and their eyes are closed; they remain underground for about 8 weeks. In central Calfornia, young began to emerge from burrows in late April or early May (Boellstorff and Owings 1995).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodShrubland/chaparralSavannaGrassland/herbaceousCropland/hedgerow
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesNNR
ProvinceRankNative
NevadaS5Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
Roadless Areas (142)
California (130)
AreaForestAcres
AgnewSequoia National Forest9,561
AntimonyLos Padres National Forest40,911
Arroyo SecoAngeles National Forest4,703
Bald MountainTahoe National Forest5,832
Barker ValleyCleveland National Forest11,940
Barney RileyHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest8,083
Bear MountainLos Padres National Forest913
Bell MeadowStanislaus National Forest7,968
Black ButteLos Padres National Forest5,116
Black MountainLos Padres National Forest16,818
Black Mtn.Sequoia National Forest15,102
Bucks LakePlumas National Forest680
Cactus Springs BSan Bernardino National Forest3,106
CajonSan Bernardino National Forest7,548
CalienteCleveland National Forest5,953
CamuesaLos Padres National Forest8,209
Caples CreekEldorado National Forest17,854
Carson - IcebergStanislaus National Forest56,430
Castle PeakTahoe National Forest14,974
Chalk PeakLos Padres National Forest7,472
ChannellSequoia National Forest45,429
Cherry LakeStanislaus National Forest1,106
ChicoSequoia National Forest39,836
Circle MountainSan Bernardino National Forest6,375
City CreekSan Bernardino National Forest9,997
ColdwaterCleveland National Forest8,402
Coyote NorthInyo National Forest11,932
Cucamonga AAngeles National Forest1,249
Cucamonga BSan Bernardino National Forest11,933
Cucamonga CSan Bernardino National Forest4,106
Cutca ValleyCleveland National Forest14,530
CuyamaLos Padres National Forest19,631
DardanellesEldorado National Forest8,110
De La GuerraLos Padres National Forest5,418
Deep CreekSan Bernardino National Forest23,869
Devil GulchSierra National Forest30,490
Dinkey LakesSierra National Forest34,171
Domeland Add.Sequoia National Forest3,046
Dry LakesLos Padres National Forest17,043
Duncan CanyonTahoe National Forest8,621
Eagle PeakCleveland National Forest6,481
FalesHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest9,138
Ferguson RidgeSierra National Forest6,104
Fish CanyonAngeles National Forest29,886
Fox MountainLos Padres National Forest52,072
Garcia MountainLos Padres National Forest7,850
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Granite ChiefTahoe National Forest6,546
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest450
Greenhorn CreekSequoia National Forest28,226
Hall Natural AreaInyo National Forest5,236
Hixon FlatSan Bernardino National Forest8,095
Hoover - Green Ck NoHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest7,155
Hoover - NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,574
Hoover - Twin LakesHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest102
Horse Creek RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest8,969
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
HortonInyo National Forest5,717
Iceberg - Mill CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest26,988
Jennie LakeSequoia National Forest2,388
Kings RiverSierra National Forest52,999
La BreaLos Padres National Forest14,031
LaddCleveland National Forest5,300
Log Cabin SaddlebagInyo National Forest15,165
Lpoor CanyonLos Padres National Forest13,762
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
Malduce BuckhornLos Padres National Forest14,177
ManzanaLos Padres National Forest2,101
MatilijaLos Padres National Forest5,218
Mill CreekSequoia National Forest27,643
Mill PeakSan Bernardino National Forest7,884
Mirada PimeLos Padres National Forest13,302
Mokelumne - SprattHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest613
MonarchSierra National Forest697
MonoLos Padres National Forest28,141
MosesSequoia National Forest22,077
Mt. RebaStanislaus National Forest3,869
Nevahbe RidgeInyo National Forest302
No NameCleveland National Forest4,897
NordhoffLos Padres National Forest12,031
North Fork American RiverTahoe National Forest38,495
North Fork Middle Fork American RiverTahoe National Forest11,245
North LakeInyo National Forest2,406
North MountainStanislaus National Forest7,856
PaiuteInyo National Forest58,712
Pine CreekCleveland National Forest503
Pleasant ViewAngeles National Forest26,395
PyramidEldorado National Forest24,347
Pyramid Peak BSan Bernardino National Forest7,194
QuatalLos Padres National Forest7,253
Raymond PeakStanislaus National Forest3,646
Raywood Flat BSan Bernardino National Forest11,373
Red MountainAngeles National Forest8,034
RinconSequoia National Forest54,610
Robinson PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,835
Rouse HillSan Bernardino National Forest13,745
Salt CreekAngeles National Forest11,022
San DimasAngeles National Forest7,160
San Gabriel AddAngeles National Forest2,527
San JoaquinSierra National Forest22,474
San SevaineSan Bernardino National Forest6,866
Santa CruzLos Padres National Forest21,182
Sawmill - BadlandsLos Padres National Forest51,362
ScodiesSequoia National Forest725
Sespe - FrazierAngeles National Forest4,254
Sespe - FrazierLos Padres National Forest106,910
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest21,098
Sill HillCleveland National Forest5,294
Silver HillHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,423
Slate Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,299
South SierraInyo National Forest41,853
South SierraSequoia National Forest8,008
Strawberry PeakAngeles National Forest7,245
SugarloafSan Bernardino National Forest8,206
Table Mtn.Inyo National Forest4,215
TequepisLos Padres National Forest9,080
TinemahaInyo National Forest27,060
TrabucoCleveland National Forest23,341
Tragedy - Elephants BackEldorado National Forest20,866
TuleAngeles National Forest9,861
WaterhouseStanislaus National Forest4,394
WattersonInyo National Forest6,922
West ForkAngeles National Forest1,169
WestforkAngeles National Forest4,407
Wheeler RidgeInyo National Forest15,744
White LedgeLos Padres National Forest18,632
WildhorseCleveland National Forest1,483
Wonoga Pk.Inyo National Forest11,272
WoodpeckerSequoia National Forest11,936
WoolstaffSequoia National Forest41,445
Idaho (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
Nevada (9)
AreaForestAcres
Jobs Peak (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,342
Mystic (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,644
Rose - Big MeadowsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest311
Rose - Davis Mdw.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,361
Rose - Dutch LouieHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest363
Rose - EvansHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,782
Rose - GalenaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest3,711
Rose - Hunter Lk NoHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest149
Rose - Whites CanyonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,568
South Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Indian CreekBuffalo Gap National Grassland24,666
Texas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Big CreekNational Forests in Texas1,447
References (11)
  1. American Society of Mammalogists (ASM). 2025. Mammal Diversity Database (Version 1.13) [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10595931. Online. Available: https://www.mammaldiversity.org/
  2. Boellstorff, D. E., and D. H. Owings. 1995. Home range, population structure, and spatial organization of California ground squirrels. Journal of Mammalogy 76:551-561.
  3. Burt, W. H. and R. P. Grossenheider. 1964. A field guide to the mammals. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
  4. Dalquest. W. W. 1948. Mammals of Washington. University of Kansas Museum Natural History Publ. 2:1-444.
  5. Dobson, F. S., and D. E. Davis. 1986. Hibernation and sociality in the California ground squirrel. J. Mamm. 67: 416-421.
  6. Maser, C., B. R. Mate, J. F. Franklin, and C. T. Dyrness. 1981. Natural history of Oregon coast mammals. Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Expt. Sta., USDA, Forest Service, Gen Tech. Rep. PNW-133:1-496.
  7. Miller, A.H. and R.C. Stebbins. 1964. The lives of desert animals in Joshua Tree National Monument. University of California Press, Berkeley.
  8. Murie, J. O., and G. R. Michener, editors. 1984. The biology of ground-dwelling squirrels: annual cycles, behavioral ecology and sociality. Univ. Nebraska Press, Lincoln. xvi + 459 pp.
  9. Phuong, M. A., K. Bi, and C. Moritz. 2017. Range instability leads to cytonuclear discordance in a morphologically cryptic ground squirrel species complex. Molecular Ecology 26(18):4743-4755.
  10. Phuong, M. A., M. C. Lim, D. R. Wait, K. C. Rowe, and C. Moritz. 2014. Delimiting species in the genus <i>Otospermophilus </i>(Rodentia: Sciuridae), using genetics, ecology, and morphology. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 113(4):1136-1151.
  11. Smith, J. E., D. J. Long, I. D. Russell, K. Lee Newcomb, and V. D. Muñoz. 2016. Otospermophilus beecheyi (Rodentia: Sciuridae). Mammalian Species 48(939):91-108.