Rock Squirrel
Otospermophilus variegatus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassMammalia (Mamífers)
- OrderRodentia (Rosegadors)
- FamilySciuridae (Squirrels)
- GenusOtospermophilus (North American Rock Squirrels)
- SpeciesOtospermophilus variegatus (Rock Squirrel)
The rock squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is native to Mexico and the Southwestern United States, including southern Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and the panhandle of Oklahoma. In Texas, they can be found in the western, central and Panhandle regions. They are especially common in the Texas Hill Country, a Subregion in central Texas. Wikipedia →
80–90% of wildlife watchers report a Rock Squirrel sighting in Grand Canyon National Park, based on 1,106 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Grand Canyon National Park
Cliff Chipmunk
Tamias dorsalis
Abert's Squirrel
Sciurus aberti
Uinta Chipmunk
Tamias umbrinus
White-tailed Antelope Squirrel
Ammospermophilus leucurus
American Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Callospermophilus lateralis
Least Chipmunk
Tamias minimus
Gunnison's Prairie Dog
Cynomys gunnisoni
American Beaver
Castor canadensis
Deer Mouse
Peromyscus maniculatus
Mexican Vole
Microtus mexicanus
Quiller
Erethizon dorsatus
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zion National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Grand Canyon National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Big Bend National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Cumbres de Monterrey National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 5 | Guadalupe Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 7 | Rocky Mountain National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Rock Squirrel in Grand Canyon National Park?
About 84% of wildlife watchers report a Rock Squirrel sighting in Grand Canyon National Park, based on 1,106 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Rock Squirrel in Grand Canyon National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Rock Squirrel in Grand Canyon National Park in our monthly data.