# Uinta Chipmunk (*neotamias umbrinus*) The Uinta Chipmunk is a small, energetic creature that loves to scurry around in the forests of the western United States. With its cute striped back and tiny paws, it gathers nuts and seeds to store for winter! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 11 - **Habitat:** Forests and mountainous regions in the western United States. - **Also known as:** Striped Chipmunk, Uinta Squirrel ![Uinta Chipmunk](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Streifenh%C3%B6rnchen_Zion.jpg&width=800) Photo: Tdomhan, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Streifenh%C3%B6rnchen_Zion.jpg) ## Appearance The Uinta Chipmunk has a greyish-brown body with five prominent dark stripes and two lighter stripes down its back, contrasting with its paler belly. It also features three distinct dark and two white stripes on its face, making it easily distinguishable from other small rodents. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Sciuridae - **Genus:** Tamias ## Interesting facts - Their long bushy tails help them balance perfectly while racing up steep trees. - These little chipmunks can live high in the mountains, even above the treeline! - They communicate with sharp alarm calls to warn others of danger from above. - Uinta Chipmunks can run at speeds up to 25 kilometers per hour when startled! ## Special abilities - **Food Hauler:** Uinta Chipmunk has expandable cheek pouches that help them carry lots of seeds back to their burrow for later meals. - **Rock & Tree Sprinter:** Uinta Chipmunk can quickly scramble up rocks and trees, helping them escape predators and find high-up food sources. - **Deep Sleeper:** Uinta Chipmunk can hibernate during cold winters, saving energy by lowering its body temperature and heart rate. - **Stash Finder:** Uinta Chipmunk possesses an incredible memory that helps it locate hundreds of buried food caches months later. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 18-24 cm - **Weight:** 0.05-0.08 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Litter Size:** 2-8 - **Gestation:** 30-32 days ## Diet & Feeding Uinta Chipmunks enjoy a varied diet of seeds, nuts, fruits, and small insects. - **Primary Foods:** Conifer seeds, Berries, Mushrooms, Grasshoppers, Beetles, Flowers - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Northern Goshawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-goshawk) (*Accipiter gentilis*) — Preys on small mammals in forests. - **Eaten by:** Ermine (*Mustela erminea*) — Hunts small rodents and birds. - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Hunts small prey in mountain habitats. - **Eats:** [Lodgepole Pine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lodgepole-pine) (*Pinus contorta*) — Provides nutritious seeds for consumption. - **Eats:** [Common Juniper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-juniper) (*Juniperus communis*) — Provides nutritious berries for consumption. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [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:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Uinta 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 Uinta Chipmunk? 18-24 cm ### How much does Uinta Chipmunk weigh? 0.05-0.08 kg ### How long does Uinta Chipmunk live? 2-5 years ### How fast can Uinta Chipmunk move? 25 km/h ### What does Uinta Chipmunk eat? Uinta Chipmunks enjoy a varied diet of seeds, nuts, fruits, and small insects. ### Where is Uinta Chipmunk usually found? Forests and mountainous regions in the western United States. ### How does Uinta Chipmunk hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Bryce Canyon Lodge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bryce-canyon-lodge-historic-district) — Utah, US · Historic District - [Bryce Canyon National Park Scenic Trails Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bryce-canyon-national-park-scenic-trails-historic-district) — Utah, US · Trail - [Grand Canyon North Rim Headquarters](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grand-canyon-north-rim-headquarters) — Arizona, US · Historic District - [Old National Park Service Housing Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-national-park-service-housing-historic-district) — Utah, US · Historic District - [Zion Lodge–Birch Creek Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zion-lodge-birch-creek-historic-district) — Utah, US · Historic District - [Cedar Breaks National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedar-breaks-national-monument) — Utah, US · National Park [View all places to see Uinta Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/uinta-chipmunk) ## 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: [Uinta Chipmunk: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/uinta-chipmunk)