Family: Sciuridae, Squirrels view all from this family

Description Brown above, with distinct stripes: median dark back stripes black, but outer ones brown or often missing; outer pale stripe bright white and broader than inner pale stripes. Top of head brown; stripes on front of head often lacking. Black spots in front of and behind eyes. Ears blackish in front, white behind. Tail has black band about 1" (25 mm) wide on underside near tip. L 7 3/4–9 1/2" (197–241 mm); T 2 5/8–4 1/2" (67–114 mm); HF 1 1/8–1 3/8" (30–36 mm); Wt 1 3/4–2 1/8 oz (51–62 g).

Similar Species Uinta Chipmunk has narrower black band beneath tail; top of head is gray. Yellow-pine Chipmunk has black side stripes. Least, Alpine, and Panamint chipmunks are smaller. Merriam’s, Long-eared, and Townsend’s chipmunks are larger.

Breeding Mates about 1 month after emergence from hibernation, in May or June. 1 litter per year of 3–6 young born in spring or early summer.

Habitat Lodgepole pine and red fir stands; often associated with manzanita.

Range Much of e and sc California.

Discussion The Lodgepole Chipmunk apparently hibernates for five or six days at a time between October and mid-April. Manzanita flowers and berries, nutlets, subterranean fungi, and caterpillars are important foods. In the San Gabriel Mountains, the Lodgepole Chipmunk often sits on the upper stems of a snowbush to scan its environment. It occurs in the mountains with Merriam’s Chipmunk, which it replaces at higher elevations. The call of the Lodgepole is not as sharp as that of the Long-eared Chipmunk.