In California, the rock squirrel is restricted to the Providence Mts., San Bernardino Co., although it is widely distributed in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. Eats a variety of seeds and fruits, including juniper, cactus, mesquite, agave, currants, grasses, and pine nuts. Also eats bird eggs and young.
Uses burrows and dens among rocks for shelter.
Dens in a burrow under or among rocks. May use hollow trees. Prefers rocky outcrops, talus, and cliffs in pinyon-juniper and Joshua tree woodlands. Outcrops near grassy areas are preferred for feeding. Probably undergoes some seasonal dormancy in California.