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California Ground Squirrel

Otospermophilus beecheyi

Plants that support California Ground Squirrel

11 plants

Black Sage

Salvia mellifera

moderate

shrub

Post-bloom seed collection Jul-Sep; food storage for year-round use

Bay Area native

California Buckeye

Aesculus californica

moderate

tree

Fall seed consumption and caching behavior

Bay Area native

California Juniper

Juniperus californica

high

tree

Cache juniper seeds in autumn for winter food storage

Bay Area nativeKeystone species

California Live-oak

Quercus chrysolepis

critical

tree

Harvests and caches acorns; important seed dispersal and predation Sep-Feb

Bay Area nativeKeystone species

California Manroot

Marah fabacea

moderate

vine

Cache seeds in fall for winter food stores

Bay Area native

California Poppy

Eschscholzia californica

moderate

annual

Post-bloom seed collection (Jun-Sep); food caching for overwinter

Bay Area native

Coast Live Oak

Quercus agrifolia

high

tree

Acorn foraging and caching Sep-Nov for winter food stores

Bay Area nativeKeystone species

Hayfield Tarweed

Hemizonia congesta subsp. lutescens

moderate

annual

Harvests and caches seeds for winter food storage

Bay Area native

Inland Saltgrass

Distichlis spicata

moderate

grass

Grazes on salt grass in coastal bluff scrub and saline habitats

Bay Area native

Santa Cruz Island Oak

Quercus parvula var. shrevei

high

tree

acorn caching and consumption critical for overwinter survival

Bay Area nativeKeystone species

Valley Oak

Quercus lobata

high

tree

Acorn cache building and consumption Sep-Dec

Bay Area nativeKeystone species