San Diego Natural History Museum--Your Nature ConnectionSDNHM
Field Guide  Spermophilus beecheyi California Ground Squirrel
(also known as Beechey Ground Squirrel)  Family: Sciuridae (tree
squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, flying squirrels, and
marmots)   A large ground squirrel, the California Ground
Squirrel is about 383-500mm (18 inches) long, including the
moderately bushy tail. The tail is longer than half the head and
body length, and is almost as bushy as a tree squirrel's tail.
The California Ground Squirrel has a general gray-brown
coloration mottled or dappled with lighter flecks on its back. A
mantle or darker gray band of color extends from the head down
and over the middle of the back. The shoulders and sides of the
head are light gray and under parts are light buff. There are
rarely any stripes. The large size, dark mantle, and usual lack
of stripes distinguish this species from other ground squirrels
in California (Jameson and Peeters, 1988).  Range and Habitat
This ground squirrel is f