Species MammalsHarris's Antelope Squirrel

Harris's Antelope Squirrel

Ammospermophilus harrisii

UncommonMammal
Illustration of Harris's Antelope Squirrel (Ammospermophilus harrisii)

Harris's Antelope Squirrel is an active, heat-tolerant ground squirrel of the Sonoran Desert with a white stripe on each side and a bushy tail held curved over its back, exposing the white underside. It does not hibernate and remains active year-round even in extreme summer temperatures. When overheated, it retreats briefly to a burrow, presses against cool soil to dump excess heat, and emerges again within minutes.

Habitat
Sonoran Desert flats and rocky slopes with saguaro and palo verde
Diet
Seeds, cactus fruits, insects, and small vertebrates
How common
Uncommon

Best time to see a Harris's Antelope Squirrel

The best time to see a Harris's Antelope Squirrel is January–June, when about 66% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 2,837 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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