Here is a picture of it beside the pliers that were used in its demise.

Brenda

Here is a closeup.

Since posting here, I also posted on the Far North Forum and someone there identified it for me as a furry scarab.

Brenda

Here's a page with photos.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/3295/bgimage

As it turns out, when I went to the above page, I clicked on the thumbnail of maps. Distribution of the various Trichiotinus species appears to be mostly east of the Rockies. The range for T. assimilis comes closest to CA, but isn't within the state.

It might be interesting to phone the entomologist at your county's Agricultural Commission to ask a few questions about it.

Thanks for more sites to peruse in my 'spare' time.

Brenda

Anyway. It still is an interesting critter.