Cliff chipmunk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cliff chipmunk |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Neotamias
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| Species: |
dorsalis
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| Synonyms | |
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Tamias dorsalis Baird, 1855 |
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The cliff chipmunk (Neotamias dorsalis) is a small, quick squirrel with a bushy tail. These chipmunks often live near tall cliffs or rocky areas. You can find them in the Western United States and Mexico, especially in places like northern Arizona and Colorado. They are super agile and can easily climb steep rock walls!
Unlike some other squirrels, cliff chipmunks don't store a lot of fat in their bodies for winter. Instead, they gather and hide food in a special "stash." They visit this hidden food supply during the cold winter months to stay fed. These little creatures are about 8 to 10 inches long and weigh around 2.5 ounces. They can live for a surprisingly long time, sometimes up to 12+1⁄2 years! Their fur is brown on their belly and gray on their back, with cool white stripes on their face.
Where Do Cliff Chipmunks Live?
Cliff chipmunks get their name because they love to nest near cliffs. They prefer areas called pinyon-juniper woodlands, which are forests with pinyon pine and juniper trees. You can find them at high altitudes, usually between 5,000 and 12,000 feet above sea level. A great place to spot them is on the cliffs of the Grand Canyon. Since they are active mostly during the day, it's pretty easy to see them scurrying around!
What Do Cliff Chipmunks Eat?
These chipmunks enjoy a diet of things found in their woodland homes. Their favorite foods include juniper berries, pine seeds from pinyon trees, and acorns.
Images for kids
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Pinyon-juniper woodlands are home to cliff chipmunks.
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A robot friend.
