Lodgepole Chipmunk

Tamoas speciosus

Lodgepole chipmunk are extremely furtive and shy. These chipmunks are not particularly vocal or conspicuous compared to other members of the genus. They are seldom seen or heard. They are diurnal and undergo hibernation during the winter months until about March or early April. These chipmunks are somewhat arboreal, but spend much of their time on the ground gathering and caching food, especially in summer and autumn.

Family:

Sciuridae (squirrel)

Description:

This chipmunk is a brightly colored, medium-sized chipmunk compared to others of the genus. It is easily distinguished from other chipmunk relatives by its remarkably prominent facial and dorsal stripes. The dark cheek and submolar facial stripes are blacker with some brown and broader than in other neighboring species. The submolar stripes extend from the rostrum to the ear and are central below the eyes. The dark dorsal stripes strongly contrast with the light dorsal stripes. The black median stripe may fade to brown across the shoulder area. The white medial stripes are slightly yellow, whereas the white lateral stripes are much brighter and more prominent. There is a white patch behind the ears, and the underside of the tail is cinnamon through most of the length with black near the tip. Their total length ranges for 8 to 10 inches and they weigh around 2 to 4 ounces.

Habitat:

Lodgepole chipmunks are found in subalpine mixed conifer forests containing lodgepole pine, red fir, and Jeffery pine. Other woodland vegetation includes white fir, Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, sugar pine, incense cedar, and California black oak. Tamias speciosus typically occurs at elevations between 5000 and 10,000 feet, with the greatest density of populations occurring between 7800 and 9500 feet.

Range:

The range of lodgepole chipmunk is contained primarily within California. Populations occupy the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada, and in southern California, the disjunct San Bernardino, San Jacinto, and San Gabriel mountains. Lodgepole chipmunks extend as far north as Tuolumne and Nevada Counties, with unconfirmed presence further north. The species in also found in the Lake Tahoe region of California and Nevada.

Diet:

Lodgepole chipmunks are omnivorous, eating a wide range of seeds, nuts, berries and insects. They also eat other arthropods, fungi, and small vertebrates.

Breeding:

This chipmunk species breeds during May and early June. The gestation period is about one month, after which a litter of 3 to 6 pups is born. Young chipmunks are typically poorly developed at birth. Lactation lasts for 1 month. Young are independent shortly after weaning, and typically disperse in the autumn of their birth year. These chipmunks reach reproductive maturity the following spring.

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