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Tamias striatus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Eastern Chipmunk

G5Secure Found in 75 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105245
Element CodeAMAFB02230
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderRodentia
FamilySciuridae
GenusTamias
Other Common Names
eastern chipmunk (EN) Tamia rayé (FR)
Concept Reference
Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
Taxonomic Comments
See Patterson and Norris (2016) for a revised classification of Marmotini (Sciuridae: Xerinae), based on Thorington et al. (2012), Ge et al. (2014), and Patterson and Norris (2016); the three chipmunk lineages should be recognized as three distinct genera, namely, Tamias Illiger, 1811, Eutamias Trouessart, 1880, and Neotamias A. H. Howell, 1929. Thorington and Hoffmann (in Wilson and Reeder 2005) noted that chipmunks could be legitimately allocated to one (Tamias), two (Neotamias, Tamias), or three (Tamias, Neotamias, Eutamias) genera; they chose to adopt the single-genus (Tamias) arrangement.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-05
Change Date1996-11-06
Range Extent Comments
Southern Manitoba to Nova Scotia, south through most of the eastern U.S. except much of Coastal Plain of Southeast.
Threat Impact Comments
Mahan and Yahner (1998) found no evidence of a population response to forest fragmentation in central Pennsylvania. Nupp and Swihart (1998) found that this species may be negatively affected by forest fragmentation, possibly through increased rates of predation.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Prefers deciduous woodlands with ample cover, such as brush piles/logs, rocky forested slopes, ravines. Also found in brushlands and hedgerows. Commonly climbs trees/shrubs. Burrows often open at edge or rock, near base of tree, or under edge of building. Nest is generally constructed below ground in an extensive burrow system.

Ecology

Depending on the season, densities may vary from less than 1 to 15 per acre (Yerger 1953), sometimes up to 30 per acre. In Virginia, populations were highest in the year following a large mast crop (Wolff 1996, J. Mamm. 77:850-856).

Reproduction

Breeding period is from mid-March to early April. A second breeding period occurs from mid-July to mid-August involving young of the previous year. Gestation lasts 31 days. Litter size is 4-15 (3-5 most often). One to two litters per year. Commonly lives 2-3 years, sometimes 5-6 years.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - MixedWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralOld field
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
New JerseyS5Yes
OklahomaSNRYes
North DakotaSNRYes
IllinoisS5Yes
FloridaS3Yes
Rhode IslandS5Yes
NebraskaS1Yes
GeorgiaS5Yes
District of ColumbiaS5Yes
VirginiaS5Yes
WisconsinS5Yes
IndianaS5Yes
MississippiS5Yes
IowaS5Yes
AlabamaS5Yes
ConnecticutS5Yes
New HampshireS5Yes
KansasS2Yes
DelawareS5Yes
South DakotaS2Yes
TennesseeS5Yes
KentuckyS5Yes
South CarolinaS5Yes
MissouriS3Yes
New YorkS5Yes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
MassachusettsS5Yes
MaineS5Yes
ArkansasS4Yes
MinnesotaSNRYes
MarylandS5Yes
LouisianaS3Yes
West VirginiaS5Yes
North CarolinaS5Yes
VermontS5Yes
OhioSNRYes
MichiganS5Yes
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
Prince Edward IslandS5Yes
OntarioS5Yes
New BrunswickS5Yes
Island of NewfoundlandSNANo
Nova ScotiaS5Yes
QuebecS5Yes
ManitobaS5Yes
Roadless Areas (75)
Alabama (1)
AreaForestAcres
Blue MountainTalladega National Forest4,986
Arkansas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Little BlakelyOuachita National Forest3,342
Georgia (1)
AreaForestAcres
Kelly RidgeChattahoochee National Forest8,325
Idaho (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
Maine (1)
AreaForestAcres
Caribou - Speckled ExtWhite Mountain National Forest5,988
Minnesota (4)
AreaForestAcres
Baker - Homer - Brule LakesSuperior National Forest6,712
Brule Lake - Eagle MountainSuperior National Forest12,380
Cabin CreekSuperior National Forest6,071
Kawishiwi Lake To SawbillSuperior National Forest15,305
Mississippi (1)
AreaForestAcres
Sandy Creek Rare Ii AreaHomochitto National Forest2,620
New Hampshire (12)
AreaForestAcres
Carr MountainWhite Mountain National Forest17,110
Dartmouth RangeWhite Mountain National Forest9,233
Great Gulf Ext.White Mountain National Forest15,110
JobildunkWhite Mountain National Forest3,660
Kinsman MountainWhite Mountain National Forest8,999
Mt. Wolf - Gordon PondWhite Mountain National Forest11,846
PemigewassetWhite Mountain National Forest32,255
Pemigewasset ExtWhite Mountain National Forest15,840
Presidential - Dry River ExtWhite Mountain National Forest10,555
Sandwich RangeWhite Mountain National Forest16,797
WatervilleWhite Mountain National Forest4,312
Wild RiverWhite Mountain National Forest46,878
North Carolina (13)
AreaForestAcres
Balsam ConePisgah National Forest10,591
BearwallowPisgah National Forest4,113
Cheoah BaldNantahala National Forest7,795
Craggy MountainPisgah National Forest2,657
Harper CreekPisgah National Forest7,325
Jarrett CreekPisgah National Forest7,485
Laurel MountainPisgah National Forest5,683
Lost CovePisgah National Forest5,944
Mackey MountainPisgah National Forest5,934
South Mills RiverPisgah National Forest8,588
Tusquitee BaldNantahala National Forest13,670
Wesser BaldNantahala National Forest4,061
Woods MountainPisgah National Forest9,602
Pennsylvania (3)
AreaForestAcres
CornplanterAllegheny National Forest2,929
Hearts ContentAllegheny National Forest221
Tracy RidgeAllegheny National Forest9,034
Tennessee (5)
AreaForestAcres
Big Laurel Branch AdditionCherokee National Forest5,577
Brushy RidgeCherokee National Forest7,469
Flint Mill GapCherokee National Forest9,494
Sampson Mountain AdditionCherokee National Forest3,064
Slide HollowCherokee National Forest4,057
Texas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Big CreekNational Forests in Texas1,447
Vermont (4)
AreaForestAcres
Bread LoafGreen Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,768
Devil's Den 09083Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests9,169
Griffith Lake 09084Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,833
Lye Brook Addition 09085Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,111
Virginia (18)
AreaForestAcres
Adams PeakGeorge Washington National Forest7,135
Beards MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,505
Brush MountainJefferson National Forest6,002
Kelley MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,590
Mill MountainGeorge Washington National Forest10,840
Mountain Lake Addition AJefferson National Forest1,469
Mt. PleasantGeorge Washington National Forest8,933
New London Bridge BranchJefferson National Forest844
North MountainJefferson National Forest8,377
Northern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest9,444
Peters Mountain Addition BJefferson National Forest2,909
Raccoon BranchJefferson National Forest4,388
Ramseys Draft AdditionGeorge Washington National Forest12,781
Saint Marys AdditionGeorge Washington National Forest1,454
Seng MountainJefferson National Forest6,428
SkidmoreGeorge Washington National Forest5,641
Southern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest11,985
The PriestGeorge Washington National Forest5,737
West Virginia (9)
AreaForestAcres
Cranberry AdditionMonongahela National Forest11,123
Cranberry Glades Botanical AreaMonongahela National Forest785
Dolly Sods Roaring PlainMonongahela National Forest13,392
Dry River (WV)George Washington National Forest7,331
Falls Of Hills CreekMonongahela National Forest6,925
Little MountainMonongahela National Forest8,172
Mcgowan MountainMonongahela National Forest10,504
Middle MountainMonongahela National Forest19,020
North Mountain HopevilleMonongahela National Forest6,525
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