California Ground Squirrel
Otospermophilus beecheyi
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassMammalia (Mamífers)
- OrderRodentia (Rosegadors)
- FamilySciuridae (Squirrels)
- GenusOtospermophilus (North American Rock Squirrels)
- SpeciesOtospermophilus beecheyi (California Ground Squirrel)
The California ground squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi), also known as the Beechey ground squirrel, is a common and easily observed ground squirrel of the western United States and the Baja California Peninsula. It is common in California with its range spanning through much of the state, as well as northeastern Nevada in areas around Reno and Lake Tahoe. Formerly placed in Spermophilus, as Spermophilus beecheyi, it was reclassified in Otospermophilus in 2009, as it became clear that Spermophilus as previously defined was not a natural (monophyletic) group. Wikipedia →
60–70% of wildlife watchers report a California Ground Squirrel sighting in Yosemite National Park, based on 1,103 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Yosemite National Park
Western Gray Squirrel
Sciurus griseus
Yellow-bellied Marmot
Marmota flaviventris
Douglas' Squirrel
Tamiasciurus douglasii
Belding's Ground Squirrel
Urocitellus beldingi
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Callospermophilus lateralis
Lodgepole Chipmunk
Tamias speciosus
Alpine Chipmunk
Tamias alpinus
Long-eared Chipmunk
Tamias quadrimaculatus
Tamia de Merriam
Tamias merriami
Least Chipmunk
Tamias minimus
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
American Beaver
Castor canadensis
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Channel Islands National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 6 | Death Valley National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a California Ground Squirrel in Yosemite National Park?
About 67% of wildlife watchers report a California Ground Squirrel sighting in Yosemite National Park, based on 1,103 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see California Ground Squirrel in Yosemite National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for California Ground Squirrel in Yosemite National Park in our monthly data.