Yellow Pine Chipmunk - Sierra Club BC
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Yellow Pine Chipmunk

CAN BE FOUND IN:

Yellow Pine Chipmunk

Neotamias amoenus 

Appearance

Similar to most types of chipmunks, the yellow pine chipmunks have five black stripes, alternating with white stripes, down the length of their body. The rest of this furry creature is brownish to cinnamon in colour. 

Range & Habitat

In Canada, these scurrying mammals are found throughout south central B.C. and east into Alberta. They build burrows in thickets, bushes and dense undergrowth in yellow pine forests. 

Reciprocal relationships

The yellow pine chipmunk eats mainly seeds and nuts and scampers up pine trees to retrieve the seeds available in their cones. As a supplement they also eat lichens, mosses and fungi. They help contribute to an increase in biodiversity, by bringing seeds to new areas. This will allow new pine trees to pop up in the understory and create new homes for small mammals, birds, and insects. They are fast moving animals, quick on their feet to evade their many predators. They play an important part in the diet of weasels, coyotes, and hawks.  

In early April and May mating begins and the young are born into nests made of twigs, leaves, and lichen in May and June. Each litter has four to seven young, which stay close to their nest until six weeks of age. When walking through the forest, you may be able to hear their familiar chirp or chatter. 

status

COSEWIC: Not Reported 
CDC: Yellow 

more information

If you belong to a First Nation with a story or piece of information not represented here and you would like to share more about this species, please email us at education@sierraclub.bc.ca.   

photo credit

Canva

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