![]() ![]() They have two to four entrances, often concealed by nearby rocks, and are typically about 18 cm (7.1 in) below the surface. Burrows consist of a single chamber about 15 cm (5.9 in) across and tunnels 7.5 cm (3.0 in) in diameter, averaging 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in) in length. Least chipmunks spend the winter in burrows and also scatter-hoard food in numerous concealed pits beneath logs and similar cover. Predators include hawks, owls, and mustelids. They are agile animals, and have been recorded running at speeds of up to 7.7 km/h (4.8 mph) in natural conditions. However, because they need to eat less food in order to survive, least chipmunks are more numerous where resources are scarce. Because of their small size, least chipmunks are generally subordinate to yellow-pine chipmunks, which are able to drive them away from food resources where food is plentiful. Home ranges vary widely, and have been reported to vary from 0.1 ha (0.25 acres) in northern Michigan to as much as 5.5 ha (14 acres) in Colorado. They mark areas depleted of suitable food with urine, and do not return to such patches afterwards. ![]() Least chipmunks are diurnal and eat seeds, berries, nuts, fruits and insects. Less arboreal than other chipmunks, least chipmunks are commonly found in sagebrush habitats and coniferous woodland, and along rivers, but they also occur in alpine meadows, and on the edges of the northern tundra. Throughout this range, as many as 21 subspecies have been identified. ![]() Least chipmunks are found through most of the western United States from northern New Mexico and western North and South Dakota to eastern California, Oregon and Washington, and throughout much of southern and western Canada from Yukon and southeastern British Columbia to central Ontario, and into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and neighboring parts of Wisconsin and Minnesota. The brain to body mass ratio for least chipmunks is lower than that for other species of chipmunk living in the same area, suggesting that they prefer less complex environments. Īs in other chipmunks, there are four toes on each of the forefeet and five on the hindfeet. In some areas, where range overlap with the yellow-pine chipmunk occurs, it may be difficult or impossible to distinguish the two species in the field laboratory examination of skeletal structures may be required. The bushy tail is orange-brown in color, and measures 10–11 cm (3.9–4.3 in) long. Two light and two dark stripes mark the face, running from the tip of the nose to the ears. The back is marked with five dark brown to black stripes separated by four white or cream-colored stripes, all of which run from the nape of the neck to the base of the tail. The body is gray to reddish-brown on the sides, and grayish white on the underparts. It is the smallest species of chipmunk, measuring about 15.7–25 cm (6.2–9.8 in) in total length with a weight of 25–66 g (0.88–2.33 oz). These small mammals are prey for weasels, coyotes, and hawks.The least chipmunk ( Neotamias minimus) is the smallest species of chipmunk and the most widespread in North America. ![]() Each litter has four to seven young which stay close to their nest until six weeks of age. In early April and May mating begins and the young are born into nests made of twigs, leaves, and lichen in May and June. When walking through the forest you may be able to hear their familiar chirp or chatter. They are fast moving animals, quick on their feet to evade their many predators. As a supplement they also eat lichens, mosses and fungi. They eat mainly seeds and nuts and scamper up pine trees to retrieve the seeds available in their cones. They build burrows in thickets, bushes and dense undergrowth in yellow pine forests. In Canada these scurrying mammals are found throughout south central B.C. The rest of this furry creature is brownish to cinnamon in colour. Similar to most types of chipmunks, the yellow pine chipmunks have five black stripes, alternating with white stripes, down the length of their body. ![]()
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