Page 44 - Present Day Wildlife_Float

Chipmunks are small striped rodents, often referred to as ground squirrels, and are members of
the family Sciuridae. They are native to North America, with one species the Siberian chipmunk which is
native to Asia. There are 25 species of chipmunk, with the Eastern chipmunk being the largest at around
30cm long and weighing around 125g, while most of the others are around 18 to 26cm long and weigh
around 55g.

Although all Chipmunks are often said to belong to the genus Tamias, there is a general con-
sensus that they should be divided into three separate genera. 1.Eastern chipmunk: Genus Tamias,
with T. striatus being the only member. 2.Siberian
chipmunk: Genus Eutamias, with E. sibiricus
being the only member. 3.Least chipmunk: Ge-
nus Neotamias that includes the 23 remaining
North American species

With their bright striped coats all appearing to
look the same it’s often difficult for the novice to
identify individual species at a glance. However, alt-
hough the colours and sizes may vary according to
the age and maturity of the animal, it’s these stripes
and colours that make it possible, in general, to help
identify each species. The Least, the smallest chip-
munk, has grey to reddish-brown fur on its sides,
with brown to black stripes enclosing the white or
Family Sciuridae cream-colored stripes that run from the nape of its
(See: Genera) neck to the base of its striped tail, which is bright orange or brown in colour.
The Siberain, the middle sized chipmunk, has light coloured fur and white
Genus Eutamias stripes that enclose its black stripes. Its central stripes are usually off-white in
Siberian chipmunks colour. Its tail is striped but is faded and dark. The Eastern, the largest chip-
Genus Tamias munk, has reddish-brown fur and black stripes enclosing its white or fawn
Eastern chipmunk stripes. It also has a broad central stripe – split by a black line – of grey or off
Genus Neotamias white running down its back. It has a dark tail and the underside of its torso is
Allen's chipmunk much lighter in colour than its two counterparts.
Alpine chipmunk The Chipmunk’s habitat is wide and varied and although the environ-
Buller's chipmunk ment each species resides will dictate its preference, in general, they are found
California chipmunk in deciduous and coniferous forests, meadows, rocky bushlands and areas cov-
Cliff chipmunk ered with shrubs. They do climb trees when foraging for food and some have
Colorado chipmunk even been seen sleeping in trees, but they are predominantly ground based
Durango chipmunk animals. They are also solitary animals and each has its own borrow, some of
Gray-collared chipmunk which have been found to be quite long and complex, but usually consists of a
Gray-footed chipmunk long tunnel from the surface leading to a living chamber and a storage area,
Hopi chipmunk used to stockpile its winter food. They live on the ground in loose communities
Least chipmunk and although they are territorial, boundaries can overlap, and they seem to be
Lodgepole chipmunk able to cross these boundaries and forage for food trouble free.
Long-eared chipmunk
Merriam's chipmunk Chipmunks are omnivorous and diet on various plants, seeds, nuts,
Palmer's chipmunk fruits, and buds. They also hunt small frogs, worms, and plunder bird eggs.
Rather than eat all the food they find they store seeds and nuts, in their soft
Panamint chipmunk expandable cheeks. This stored food is transported back and lodged in the
Red-tailed chipmunk chamber in its burrow or hidden in holes in the ground or up trees. The chip-
Siskiyou chipmunk munk – apart from the Eastern, who hibernates through the winter - uses this
Sonoma chipmunk hidden food to sustain it through the lean winter months.
Townsend's chipmunk
Uinta chipmunk They are also excellent swimmers and think nothing of entering the wa-
Yellow-cheeked chip- ter to retrieve food from the surface or escape from predators. Like most ro-
munk dents they can move incredibly fast, their speed being the only weapon they
Yellow-pine chipmunk have to evade the wide range of predators that prey on them, like hawks, owls,
foxes, raccoons, snakes, weasels and many more. They use this speed to weave
through large bush or shrub areas preventing animals from following them or
birds from swooping in to catch them. Hopefully, they will reach their burrow
and vanish underground. (See: Rodent)