Is the Bay Area home to any weather-forecasting groundhogs?

"Groundhogs are not native to California, and are found mostly east of the Mississippi River. But if you want to hunt for groundhog-like critters, you're in luck. The Bay Area is home to cousins of groundhogs, the California ground squirrel. You can find them in a lot of parks and open spaces, but if it's an adventure you seek, try taking your son on a hike in the Mission Peak Regional Preserve."

"Park naturalists recommend following Hidden Valley and Ohlone Wilderness trails until you reach the Peak Trails, which will lead up to the Mission Peak Summit. To complete the loop, follow the Horse Heaven and Peak Meadows trails back down, keeping an eye out for the ground squirrels as you go. It's about 10 miles in all, and is listed as beginner-to-intermediate in difficulty. The route is a mix of wide paved and gravel paths."

Groundhogs are not native to California and are mostly found east of the Mississippi River. The Bay Area hosts groundhog relatives such as the California ground squirrel, which inhabits many parks and open spaces. Mission Peak Regional Preserve offers reliable squirrel viewing along a roughly 10-mile loop using Hidden Valley, Ohlone Wilderness, Peak Trails, Horse Heaven and Peak Meadows trails. That loop is rated beginner-to-intermediate and combines paved and gravel paths. Northern California also supports the yellow-bellied marmot, typically in Yosemite. The Oakland Zoo displays a rock hyrax in its African Savannah section that some people liken to a groundhog.

Read at The Mercury News