Don’t call them chipmunks – the white-tailed antelope squirrel is a small rodent that lives here in the Morongo Basin and is an integral part of the Mojave desert biodiversity. They have a white stripe down their back and sides, with a face similar to a chipmunk, but these little fellows have longer legs than their cousin species and run around the desert with their short white tail up in the air.
You can often see them out and about in the daytime – they can be anywhere from 5 to 8 inches long and forge during the daytime for seeds, insects, lizards, and cactus.
During the hotter months they burrow underground to avoid the heat and they can withstand temps down to below freezing when underground.
The Antelope Ground Squirrel joins the California Ground Squirrel as two of the most common ground rodents you’ll see around the mojave desert during the daytime. Although they will hang out around trees, they aren’t often in them like other california squirrel varieties. And once the sun sets, most of the squirrel activity moves underground and kangaroo rats take over the seed gathering duties.
If you are in your backyard and see small holes at the base of creosote bushes, you’re probably at the entrance of an antelope squirrel’s home. Most of the homes only extend about two feet below the surface where they build a nest out of dried vegetation and fur.
We’re coming up on their mating season – from February to June – and litter sizes range from 5 to 15 babies and females can have two litters a year, meaning if you aren’t seeing antelope ground squirrels now, keep your eyes peeled in April when a new batch arrives with spring.
Read more about the White-tailed Antelope Ground Squirrel at the National Park Service’s website.
