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California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus beecheyi) are found throughout most of California and in several nearby states. They are among the biggest of the ground squirrels and can be identified by their gray shoulder wash, fluffy tail, and somewhat spotted appearance. Their abundance and tameness -- they can be downright obnoxious in picnic areas and sometimes make pests of themselves in gardens -- tends to make one overlook their great adaptability. California ground squirrels are found in hot deserts, cool, moist coastal areas, high up into the Sierra and other mountain ranges, in wilderness areas, in city parks, and just about everywhere else they can dig a burrow and find something to eat. One of these was resting in the shade near a campground in Joshua Tree National Park, California on a hot spring day; the others were in a coastal park in La Jolla, CA. |
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