Colorado chipmunk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Colorado chipmunk |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Neotamias
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| Species: |
quadrivittatus
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| Synonyms | |
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Tamias quadrivittatus |
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The Colorado chipmunk (Neotamias quadrivittatus) is a small, quick chipmunk. It belongs to the squirrel family, called Sciuridae. This chipmunk lives only in certain parts of the United States. You can find it in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.
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What Does a Colorado Chipmunk Look Like?
These chipmunks often live in coniferous forests. They also like woodlands, mountain shrub lands, and high alpine areas. This means they live in places that are quite high up. You can find them from about 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) to 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) above sea level.
The Colorado chipmunk is the biggest chipmunk species in the Colorado Front Range. It is larger than the Least Chipmunk and the Uinta Chipmunk. On average, an adult Colorado chipmunk weighs about 62 grams (2.2 ounces). Chipmunks are different from ground squirrels because they have a stripe across their face, right under their eye. Male and female Colorado chipmunks look very similar. Their calls are important for protecting their home areas.
What Do Colorado Chipmunks Eat?
Colorado chipmunks enjoy a varied diet. They eat seeds, berries, and flowers. They also munch on insects. In the fall, they work hard to gather lots of food. They then store this food in hidden spots for the winter months. This stored food helps them survive when food is scarce.
How Do Colorado Chipmunks Have Babies?
The number of litters a female chipmunk has can depend on how high up she lives. They usually have one or two litters of babies each year. Mating often happens in the spring. This is when the chipmunks come out of their burrows after winter. Female chipmunks are ready to mate for only a few days after they emerge.
About a month after mating, the female gives birth. A litter can have anywhere from 5 to 8 babies. These young chipmunks are born helpless and need their mother's care. They are fed by their mother for about 40 to 50 days. After this time, they are ready to start finding food on their own.
See also
In Spanish: Neotamias quadrivittatus para niños
