Threatened

(dpw.sbcounty.gov)

California Endangered Species Act

(dpw.sbcounty.gov)

They are at risk from habitat fragmentation and degradation from urban, military, and agricultural development (animaldiversity.org)

Western Mojave Desert of California

Mohave Ground Squirrel Survey Guidelines (ca.gov)

Incidental Take Permit for CESA-listed Species (wildlife.ca.gov)

Mohave ground squirrels live in extreme conditions of the Mojave Desert. These habitats include primarily scrubs with sandy soil and mixed woody plants, as well as small herbaceous plants. They can also be found in the Joshua tree woodlands (animaldiversity.org). Spring brings some higher vegetation, where they are able to feed on leaves and shrubs’ seeds. Mohave ground squirrels get ready to be dormant by gaining body fat. By midsummer, they go into their underground nests to go into a state of torpor where their body temperature, metabolism, and heart rate fall, and they live off their stored body fat until after winter. If there is a lack of winter rains and therefore vegetation, these rodents will not reproduce, but rather enter early dormancy as soon as April. If there was enough winter rain, they emerge from dormancy in February and males search for females to mate with. Females produce litters of 6-9 young by March, which grow fast and leave to find their own habitat by end of May and early June (dpw.sbcounty.gov).

The small range and habitats of this species is the largest threat to their survival. Further research into their movement and the creation of optimal habitats in other areas could increase their numbers and may be one of the few options to do so.

A Conservation Strategy for the Mohave Ground Squirrel (ca.gov)

Mohave ground squirrels have a brownish-gray body with a white belly and white rings around the eyes. In the summer, their body is browner with shorter hairs. They have a short and broad tail that has a white underside and black hairs at the tip. These colors are to blend in with their sandy environment to protect them from predators. Mohave ground squirrels are often mistaken for white-tailed antelope squirrels, which can overlap in location (animaldiversity.org). They differ by body colors or patterns, as the white-tailed antelope squirrel has two white stripes down their back. Their tail also appears slightly bushier (nps.gov).

Mohave Ground Squirrel | San Bernadino County (sbcounty.gov)

Mohave Ground Squirrel | Animal Diversity Web (animaldiversity.org)

White Tailed Antelope Ground Squirrel | National Park Service (nps.gov)