# Merriam's Chipmunk (*Neotamias merriami*) Merriam's Chipmunk is a small, striped animal that loves to scurry around in the forest. They have big cheeks that they fill with food to take back to their burrows! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Merriam's Chipmunk](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Neotamias_merriami.jpg&width=800) Photo: Greg Schechter, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neotamias_merriami.jpg) ## Appearance The Merriam's Chipmunk is a medium-sized chipmunk with a yellowish-gray to brownish-gray coat. It has five prominent dark stripes down its back and sides, separated by four lighter stripes. Its relatively long, somewhat bushy tail and small ears help distinguish it visually from other chipmunks. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Sciuridae - **Genus:** Tamias ## Interesting facts - By forgetting where they buried some seeds, they accidentally help new plants grow! - Merriam's Chipmunks enter a deep sleep called torpor, sometimes for days, to save energy! - Their long tail helps Merriam's Chipmunks balance perfectly while scampering across branches! - They make high-pitched 'chip-chip' calls to warn nearby chipmunks about danger! ## Special abilities - **Super Stash Pockets:** Merriam's Chipmunk has expandable cheek pouches that help them carry large amounts of food back to their burrow. - **Tree Acrobatics:** Merriam's Chipmunk can skillfully climb trees and rocks because of their sharp claws, helping them escape predators. - **Underground Builder:** Merriam's Chipmunk can dig complex burrows that provide safe shelter and storage for their stored food. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 11-15 cm - **Weight:** 0.04-0.08 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Speed:** 20 km/h - **Litter Size:** 2-8 - **Gestation:** 30-31 days ## Diet & Feeding These chipmunks eat a mix of seeds, nuts, fruits, and even tiny insects to stay healthy! - **Primary Foods:** Seeds, Nuts, Berries, Fungi, Insects - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — Owls hunt them from above. - **Eaten by:** [Western Diamondback Rattlesnake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-diamondback-rattlesnake) (*Crotalus atrox*) — Snakes ambush them on the ground. - **Eaten by:** [Bobcat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bobcat) (*Lynx rufus*) — Bobcats are stealthy hunters of chipmunks. - **Depends on:** California Live Oak (*Quercus agrifolia*) — Relies on acorns from oak trees. - **Eats:** Bigberry Manzanita (*Arctostaphylos glauca*) — Enjoys eating the sweet berries. ## 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. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [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 catch them; they are wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Merriam's 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 Merriam's Chipmunk? 11-15 cm ### How much does Merriam's Chipmunk weigh? 0.04-0.08 kg ### How long does Merriam's Chipmunk live? 2-5 years ### How fast can Merriam's Chipmunk move? 20 km/h ### What does Merriam's Chipmunk eat? These chipmunks eat a mix of seeds, nuts, fruits, and even tiny insects to stay healthy! ### Where is Merriam's Chipmunk usually found? Forests ### How does Merriam's 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: [Merriam's Chipmunk: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/merriams-chipmunk)