Allen's chipmunk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Allen's chipmunk |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Neotamias
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| Species: |
senex
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| Subspecies | |
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N. s. pacifica (Sutton & Patterson, 2000) |
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| Synonyms | |
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Tamias senex J. A. Allen, 1890 |
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The Allen's chipmunk (scientific name: Neotamias senex) is a small, quick animal also known as the shadow chipmunk. These cute chipmunks live in the western parts of the United States. You can find them in states like California, Oregon, and Nevada. They are especially common in the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains.
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What Does Allen's Chipmunk Look Like?
Allen's chipmunks are small, active rodents. They usually measure about 23 to 26 centimeters (9 to 10 inches) long, including their tail. Their tail itself is quite long, about 9 to 11 centimeters (3.5 to 4.5 inches). Adult chipmunks weigh between 67 and 108 grams (about 2.4 to 3.8 ounces). Female chipmunks are usually a little bigger than males.
There are two main types, or subspecies, of Allen's chipmunk:
- Coastal Chipmunks: These chipmunks live near the coast. They have darker fur and their stripes on their back are not as clear.
- Inland Chipmunks: These chipmunks live further inland. They have lighter, brownish-yellow fur with a smoky gray tint.
Both types have a clear black stripe down the middle of their back, which is easy to spot in summer and winter.
Where Do Allen's Chipmunks Live?
Allen's chipmunks live in different areas depending on their subspecies.
- Coastal Chipmunks: You can find these chipmunks only in the redwood forests of California. This area stretches from the Pacific coast about 32 kilometers (20 miles) inland. Their range goes from the Eel River in Humboldt County north to the Klamath River in Del Norte County.
- Inland Chipmunks: These chipmunks live in a much larger area. Their home starts near Shaver Lake in Fresno County, California. From there, they spread north and west into the Sierra Nevada mountains, the Cascade Range, the Warner Mountains, and the Yolla Bolly–Middle Eel Wilderness. Their territory borders where the coastal chipmunks live.
What Kind of Home Do They Like?
Allen's chipmunks love to live in trees! They are mostly tree-dwelling animals. They prefer coniferous forests, which are forests with cone-bearing trees like pines. They also like areas with thick bushes, called chaparral. These chipmunks are unique because they seem to prefer older forests with lots of tall trees that form a thick canopy overhead.
They often build their nests inside fallen logs or hollow trees. They especially like ponderosa pine and Jeffrey pine trees. In the Sierra Nevada mountains, some chipmunks have even been seen nesting high up in broken trees, as tall as 27 meters (88.6 feet) off the ground! They also use tree stumps and old woodpecker holes for their homes.
The coastal chipmunks live from sea level up to about 150 meters (490 feet) high. The inland chipmunks in the Sierra Nevada usually live between 1,220 and 2,350 meters (4,000 and 7,700 feet) high. They can even be found as high as 2,900 meters (9,500 feet) in Yosemite National Park.
How Do Allen's Chipmunks Behave?
Allen's chipmunks are generally social animals. They like to be around other chipmunks.
Their Calls and Communication
These chipmunks have a special "chip" sound they make. It's usually a quick series of calls, and each call is made up of 3 to 5 short sounds. Their calls last about 0.81 seconds, with a short pause between each sound. These calls are often used as an alarm if they sense danger. If a predator comes near, the chipmunk will stop calling and stay very still. Once the danger passes, they start their alarm call again. It's common for one chipmunk to start calling, and then others will join in, sometimes for up to 15 minutes!
Daily Life and Hibernation
Allen's chipmunks are active during the day. They hibernate, or go into a deep sleep, from November until March. They are one of the few chipmunk species in North America that get extra fat before winter. They can gain up to 20% of their body weight by November to help them survive the cold months. Before and after hibernation, they tend to be quiet and less active. But as more chipmunks wake up in the spring, they become much louder and more energetic!
What Do They Eat?
Allen's chipmunks are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. Their diet includes fungi (like mushrooms), insects, seeds, flowers, and fruit. What they eat depends a lot on where they live and the time of year.
Fungi are a very important part of their diet. They make up about 60% of what a chipmunk eats, and sometimes even up to 99% if they live in old conifer forests. Allen's chipmunks use their cheek pouches to carry food, especially fungi. They are also known as the only chipmunk species that collects the seeds they eat.
Their Life Cycle
Mating season for Allen's chipmunks starts about a month after they wake up from hibernation, usually from March to April. The mother chipmunk is pregnant for about 28 days. Most baby chipmunks are born in late May to early June. They are nursed by their mother for about 2 months, until early August. A mother chipmunk usually has 3 to 5 babies, with an average of about 4 or 5. Both male and female chipmunks can start having their own babies when they are about 10 months old.
Allen's chipmunks change their fur twice a year.
- The first change happens after breeding season. They replace their thick winter coat with a shorter, brighter one.
- The second change happens in late summer or early fall, before they hibernate. They get a longer, softer, and grayer coat for winter.
Allen's chipmunks have been known to live up to 8 years in the wild. However, scientists don't have a lot of detailed information about their exact life expectancy.
Who Are Their Predators?
Many animals hunt Allen's chipmunks. Their natural predators include hawks, owls, foxes, coyotes, snakes, badgers, and weasels.
