# Lodgepole Chipmunk (*Neotamias speciosus*) The Lodgepole Chipmunk is a small, striped animal that loves to scurry around in the forest. They have big cheeks to store food and are very playful, making them fun to watch! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Lodgepole Chipmunk](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lodgepole_Chipmunk_%28Neotamias_speciosus%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Linda Tanner, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lodgepole_Chipmunk_%28Neotamias_speciosus%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Lodgepole Chipmunk is a small, striped rodent with five prominent dark stripes on its back, separated by lighter stripes. Its fur is reddish-brown to grayish-brown, with white underparts and a distinct white stripe above and below its eye. A relatively long, bushy tail completes its look. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Sciuridae - **Genus:** Tamias ## Interesting facts - Lodgepole Chipmunks are very territorial and will boldly chase rivals away from their space. - Their stripes help break up their shape, hiding them from sharp-eyed hawks! - They 'hibernate' but wake often to snack on stored food in their cozy burrow! - They use their bushy tail as a counterbalance, helping them scamper quickly and safely. ## Special abilities - **Cheek Pouch Hoarding:** Lodgepole Chipmunk has expandable cheek pouches that help them carry large amounts of food back to their burrows for storage. - **Arboreal Agility:** Lodgepole Chipmunk can climb trees and rocks with ease because of its agile body and sharp claws that help it navigate its habitat. - **Underground Architects:** Lodgepole Chipmunk can dig intricate underground burrows that help them stay safe from predators and store food during winter. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 18-24 cm - **Weight:** 0.045-0.08 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Speed:** 15 km/h - **Litter Size:** 3-8 - **Gestation:** 28-32 days ## Diet & Feeding These busy chipmunks mostly eat seeds, nuts, and berries they gather in their forest homes. - **Primary Foods:** conifer seeds, berries, nuts, fungi, insects - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — A common aerial predator soaring above its forest home. - **Eats:** [Lodgepole Pine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lodgepole-pine) (*Pinus contorta*) — Relies on this tree's seeds as a major food source. - **Eaten by:** Short-tailed Weasel (*Mustela erminea*) — A swift ground predator that hunts chipmunks in their burrows. - **Eats:** [Grouse Whortleberry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/grouse-whortleberry) (*Vaccinium scoparium*) — Enjoys the tasty fruits of this common forest shrub. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Watch from a distance and don't try to touch or catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Lodgepole Chipmunk? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Lodgepole Chipmunk? 18-24 cm ### How much does Lodgepole Chipmunk weigh? 0.045-0.08 kg ### How long does Lodgepole Chipmunk live? 2-5 years ### How fast can Lodgepole Chipmunk move? 15 km/h ### What does Lodgepole Chipmunk eat? These busy chipmunks mostly eat seeds, nuts, and berries they gather in their forest homes. ### Where is Lodgepole Chipmunk usually found? Forests ### How does Lodgepole Chipmunk hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Lodgepole Chipmunk: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lodgepole-chipmunk)