Head to head
California Ground Squirrel vs Harris's Antelope Squirrel
California Ground Squirrel
VS Harris's Antelope Squirrel
The California ground squirrel and Harris's antelope squirrel are both western North American ground squirrels, but they have solved very different problems: one faces down rattlesnakes, the other the midday desert sun.
| California Ground Squirrel | Harris's Antelope Squirrel | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Otospermophilus beecheyi | Ammospermophilus harrisii |
| Habitat and range | Grassland and open woodland in California, Oregon, Washington, and Baja California | Desert in southern Arizona and northwestern Mexico, including the Sonoran Desert |
| Diet | Seeds, nuts, fruit, and plants, along with insects and some small animals | Seeds, cactus fruit, and plants, along with insects and some small animals |
| Tail use | Fluffs and waves it at rattlesnakes, and can warm it to send an infrared signal | Curls it over its back like a parasol, shading its body and reflecting heat |
| Main survival trick | Partial resistance to rattlesnake venom and scent-masking with chewed snakeskin | Forages through the hottest part of the day, unlike many desert animals |
| Burrows | Digs burrows in loose colonies that burrowing owls and some salamanders also use | Not specifically documented |
| Winter | Not specifically documented | Stays active through the winter rather than hibernating |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
California Ground Squirrel vs Harris's Antelope Squirrel: common questions
How does the California ground squirrel deal with rattlesnakes?
It fluffs and waves its tail, can warm the tail to send an infrared signal that snakes can sense, has partial resistance to the venom, and smears chewed snakeskin on its fur to mask its scent.
Which squirrel is active in the midday heat?
Harris's antelope squirrel, which forages through the hottest part of the day in the Sonoran Desert and uses its curled tail as a parasol.
Where do the California ground squirrel and Harris's antelope squirrel live?
The California ground squirrel lives in grassland and open woodland along the Pacific Coast, while Harris's antelope squirrel lives in desert in southern Arizona and northwestern Mexico.