URGENT - DATA REQUESTED. Mohave Ground Squirrel 5-Year Species Review
May 8, 2025
CA Department of Fish and Wildlife
In August of 2023, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife initiated a five-year species review for the state threatened Mohave ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus mohavensis) to inform the California Fish and Game Commission's decision on whether to retain or change the status of the species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). As part of this process, the department is seeking information or data on Mohave ground squirrel. To submit information or data, or to provide questions or comments about the review process, please email the Wildlife Diversity Program and include “Mohave ground squirrel” in the subject line.
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Live Trapping - Volunteer Opportunity ! ! !
Assistance with live trapping
Dates:
- May 18: Mandatory training, half day – remainder will be grid setup
- May 19-20: grid setup and/or pre-baiting
- May 21-28 (or 29th): Active trapping (maybe shift one day or so)
Main Primary Investigators: Bruce Garlinger and Denise LaBertaux for Coso grid and others
Coso Grids: 225 traps, .5 mile hike into trapping grid, other support for volunteer trapping may also be needed.
Live Trapping map and Trapping details are located below.
Comments submitted on the California State Wildlife Action Plan 2025 Update
March 31, 2025
California State Wildlife Action Plan 2025 Update
On March 31, 2025, the Defenders of Wildlife, the Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee and the Mohave Ground Squirrel Conservation Council submitted comments on the Draft California State Wildlife Action Plan 2025 Update (Draft SWAP).
The council included comments to support the survival of the Mohave ground squirrel.
A copy of the comment letter is located below.
Petition submitted to list the Mohave Ground Squirrel on the Endangered Species List
December 13, 2023
Endangered Species List
On December 13, 2023, the Defenders of Wildlife, the Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee and the Mohave Ground Squirrel Conservation Council filed a petition with the Department of the Interior to list the Mohave ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus mohavensis) as a threatened species and to designate critical habitat concurrent with the listing.
“Recent presence/absence trapping summaries by Dr. Phil Leitner have shown that the Mohave ground squirrel’s range is shrinking in all directions except from the northwest, and that hybridization with the common round-tailed ground squirrel is threatening the species from the east as far west as Harper Lake Road. This new information since the previous two petitions provides evidence that federal listing is warranted,” said Ed LaRue, board member of the Mohave Ground Squirrel Conservation Council. “With federal protections under the Endangered Species Act, proactive conservation of the species on our large military bases within the range – particularly Edwards Air Force Base, Fort Irwin and China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station – is necessary to avoid extinction.”
Copies of the petition documents can be downloaded using the links below . . .
MGS Species Distribution
Distribution
The Mohave ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus mohavensis) is a species of ground squirrel found only in the Mojave Desert in California. This squirrel inhabits the western Mojave Desert in portions of Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino counties. It can occupy Joshua tree woodlands, creosote scrub, saltbush scrub and mojave mixed woody scrub. Typical forage plants are those that meet nutritional and water content requirements. These can include shrubs such as winterfat, spiny hopsage, and boxthorn (Lycium spp.).
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