The California ground squirrel is a large, long-tailed gray squirrel with a large, nearly-black, triangular patch between light-gray shoulder patches. The gray dorsal pelage is speckled with buffy white spots. The tail is bushy, but not so full and spreading as those of tree squirrels.

In Oregon, it occurs throughout the area west of the Cascade Range and throughout much of Central Oregon. It is considered among the most generalized of the ground squirrels as it inhabits a variety of habitats.

Although it is a ground-dwelling squirrel, it has a strong propensity to climb. It is commonly observed sitting on fence posts, stumps, brush piles, foundations of razed buildings, boulders or other objects that extend above the grade, and occasionally up in trees.

Photo by Kathy Munsel, ODFW