Ammospermophilus leucurus
Silhouette: Joseph Smit · PhyloPic
In 3 days >90%
The white-tailed antelope squirrel (Ammospermophilus leucurus) is a diurnal species of ground squirrel, scientifically classified in the order Rodentia and family Sciuridae, found in arid regions of the southwestern United States and the Baja California Peninsula of northwestern Mexico.
The white-tailed antelope squirrel's geographical range extends north to south from southwestern Oregon to New Mexico, and east to west from western Colorado to Baja California, Mexico. This species of squirrel has an average home range of 14.9 acres (60,000 m2), and utilizes approximately 4 acres (16,000 m2) in its daily activities. Throughout much of the squirrel's range, especially in Utah, the population density fluctuates greatly, with periods of high density followed by periods of low density. Average population density also varies by season, with higher density in autumn relative to late spring.
The white-tailed antelope squirrel is commonly spotted in arid habitats throughout the southwestern United States. Throughout this range, A. leucurus is omnivorous, feeding primarily on foliage (10%-60% of its diet), seeds (20%-50... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Death Valley National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 4 | Cabo Pulmo National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 5 | Grand Canyon National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Bahía de Loreto National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 7 | Zion National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Vegas | 🇺🇸 United States |
Very likely
About 70% of wildlife watchers report a White-tailed Antelope Squirrel sighting in Joshua Tree National Park on a given day, based on 770 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the most-seen of the 15 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February and November–December
In those months about 80% of wildlife watchers report a White-tailed Antelope Squirrel in Joshua Tree National Park on a given day, against about 60% in January, March–May and July, the lowest months.
Between 8 and 11 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most White-tailed Antelope Squirrel sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 7 parks where we can rate White-tailed Antelope Squirrel sightings, Joshua Tree National Park has the highest daily chance: about 70%. Next come Death Valley National Park (United States, about 30%) and El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve (Mexico, about 20%). All parks ranked.
Same family: Sciuridae
The closest relatives of the White-tailed Antelope Squirrel that you can see in Joshua Tree National Park (family Sciuridae, Squirrels) are California Ground Squirrel (about 30%), California Chipmunk (about 20%) and Round-tailed Ground Squirrel (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the White-tailed Antelope Squirrel is recorded against all the mammals logged in Joshua Tree National Park (770 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
