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California Ground Squirrel Video Stock Footage
The squirrel's upper parts are mottled, the fur containing a mixture of gray, light brown and dusky hairs the underside is lighter, buff or grayish yellow. The fur around the eyes is whitish, while that around the ears is black. Head and body are about 30 cm (12 in) long and the tail an additional 15 cm (5.9 in). They can weigh from 280-738 g(9.87-26.01 oz). The tail is relatively bushy for a ground squirrel, and at a quick glance the squirrel might be mistaken for a fox squirrel.
As is typical for ground squirrels, California ground squirrels live in burrows which they excavate themselves. Some burrows are occupied communally but each individual squirrel has its own entrance. Although they readily become tame in areas used by humans, and quickly learn to take food left or offered by picnickers, they spend most of their time within 25 m (82 ft) of their burrow, and rarely go further than 50 m (160 ft) from it.
In the colder parts of their range, California ground squirrels hibernate for several months, but in areas where winters have no snow, most squirrels are active year-round. In those parts where the summers are hot they may also estivate for periods of a few days. Learn more about California Ground Squirrel
View related species in family group: Squirrel
Animalia: Chordata: Rodentia: Mammalia: Sciuridae: Otospermophilus beecheyi