Antelope ground squirrels were common in the Joshua tree woodland where
they were noted up to 4500 feet elevation in Graham Canyon. None was
found on the pinyon slopes, possibly because of the competition offered
there by _Eutamias merriami_, or because the rocky nature of the soil
there rendered burrowing difficult.
Although observed less often in winter than in summer, this species is
active all year. On February 6, 1949, in Mescal Wash, an antelope ground
squirrel was foraging over the snow which was at least six inches deep.
These squirrels were attracted to the carcasses of rodents used as bait
for carnivore sets, and caused a good deal of trouble by disturbing the
traps.
Antelope ground squirrels used the topmost twigs of box-thorn bushes
extensively as lookout posts, and many of their burrows were at the
bases of these thorny bushes. This habit of regularly using observation
posts is well developed in each species of ground squirrel found in the
San Gabriels.
_Specimens examined._--Los Angeles County: 6 mi. E and 1 mi. S
Llano, 3500 ft., 2.
=Eutamias speciosus speciosus= (Merriam)