Description

Reddish brown above; belly white. 1 stripe bordered by 2 black stripes on sides; stripes end at rump. 2 white stripes on back much thinner then side stripes. Darker center stripe down back; pale facial stripes above and below eyes. Tail brown on tip, edged with black. Prominent ears. L 8 1/2-11 3/4"; T 3 1/8-4 3/8"; HF 1 1/4-1 1/2"; Wt 2 1/4 -5 oz.

Similar Species

Least Chipmunk has 4 white stripes of equal width on back.

Breeding

Mates in early spring; 1 litter per year of 3-5 young born in May, First- year females not breeding in early spring may produce a litter late July- August.

Sign

Burrow entrance 2" wide, without piles of dirt, often on a wooded slope or bank. Occasional sprinklings of nutshells opened on one side. Bits of chaff on logs, stumps, and rocks. Tracks: In mud, hindprint 1 7/8" long, foreprint considerably smaller; straddle 1 3/4-3 1/2"; stride closer together and printing ahead of foreprints.

Habitat

Open deciduous woodlands, forest edges, brushy areas, bushes and stone walls in cemeteries and around houses.

Other