| California ground squirrel, Spermophilus beecheyi |
| Family | Squirrel (Sciuridae) | Size | 18" L 8"T |
| Breeding | 5-8 Young in May | Food | Loves acorns. Seeds, berries, leaves, grasses. |
| Habitat | Oak woods | ||
Extremely common. California ground squirrels create extensive burrows. In some areas, these burrows can cause significant damage. They've been responsible for undermining some areas of Mt. Hamilton Road over the years. Keep an eye out for the now infamous "Pop Up Squirrel" on your way to Lick Observatory. A particularly industrious squirrel dug a burrow under and then through the center of the roadway. California Ground Squirrels are a favorite of rattlesnakes which often lay in wait for them in their burrows. Eagles, raccoons, foxes, badgers, etc. also prey on them. Ground squirrels are active by day. They hibernates November-February but are occasionally seen on warm winter days. Their piercing high pitched warning call can be heard on hikes through their communities and is often mistaken for a bird. Peep! [pause] Peep! pause] Peep! |
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add image to lightboxAlden, Peter, and Fred Heath. National Audubon Society Field Guide to California. New York: Knopf, 1998.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spermophilus_beecheyi