Most records are from the oak belt in the Sierra foothills at or south of Oak Creek Canyon. However, there are a handful of records scattered over the county. The most reliable site, when they are in town, is at the Mt. Whitney Fish Hatchery. In fall, many depart and move to lower elevations for the winter where the sap will continue to flow. They have been reported on the Death Valley Christmas Count a few times.
Any report requires solid documentation to verify it as a record.
In winter, it is an uncommon visitor in the towns and riparian lowlands. There are but a few Peeding records at Whitney Portal and in the White- Mountains. During the rest of the year, it is uncommon in Owens Valley towns and along the Owens River. Interestingly the 1891 Death Valley Expedition did not record it even though they conducted many surveys of the east slope of the Sierra. Their preference for Joshua tree and desert riparian limits their distribution.