California Ground Squirrel ( Spermophilus beecheyi )

California Ground Squirrel, Monterey, California.

Photograph by Franco Folini. Some rights reserved.

California Ground Squirrel

Photograph by Tom Woodward. Some rights reserved.

California Ground Squirrel - La Jolla Cove, California.

Photograph by nalilo / Donna. Some rights reserved.

MAMMAL FACTS

distribution map showing range of Spermophilus beecheyi in North America

Description
California ground squirrels have mottled fur a mix of gray, light and dark brown, and white. The shoulders, neck and sides are a lighter gray. The tail is bushy and similar color to the body. The underside is paler with light brown, gray and white hairs. There is a white ring around the eye.

Size
Body length: 33cm - 50cm. Tail length: 12cm - 23cm. Weight: 280g -740g

Environment
wide range of habitats including farmland, grassland, clearings in woodlands, rocky outcrops in mountains, suburban areas. They need loose soil for burrowing.

Breeding
Five to eleven young are born in a burrow .after a gestation period of around 30 days. The young are born blind, open their eyes after about 5 weeks. They are weaned after about 7 weeks.

Range
California, western Oregon, parts of western Nevada, south west Washington, Baja California

Classification

Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Sciuridae
Genus:	Spermophilus
Species:	beecheyi
Common Name:	California Ground Squirrel