A California ground squirrel watches for predators while scrounging for seeds in a San Diego California wildlife preserve.The California ground squirrel, also known as the Beechey ground squirrel, is a common and easily observed ground squirrel of the western United States and the Baja California Peninsula it is common in Oregon and California and its range has relatively recently extended into Washington and northwestern Nevada. HTBphotos by John and Katharina Notarianni for websites, print and other media.