This little chipmunk is a fast, stripey ball of energy that races through the mountains. It’s smaller than a squirrel, but just as busy—and twice as cute
You’ll find this chipmunk in mountain forests and rocky areas, especially in the Sierra Nevada. It likes cooler places with lots of hiding spots and natural snack bars.
Mountain chipmunks collect seeds, berries, and nuts and store them in underground caches. They help forests grow by spreading seeds, and they’re food for animals like hawks and foxes.
They breed in spring. After a short pregnancy, the mother gives birth to several babies in a hidden nest. Once grown, the babies go off to build their own food stashes.
Their cheek pouches can hold as much as their whole head. They can climb trees, dart between rocks, and vanish before you even finish saying “chipmunk.”
Chipmunks help spread seeds and support the food chain. They’re small but mighty members of the forest—and if they’re gone, the forest loses a key helper.
