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Montana Animal Field Guide

Montana Field Guides

Least Chipmunk - Tamias minimus

  • Least Chipmunk
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Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S4

Agency Status
USFWS: none
USFS: none
BLM: none
CFWCS Tier: 3
 

General Description
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General Distribution
Montana Range



Western Hemisphere Range

 


Summary of Observations Submitted for Montana
Number of Observations: 291

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Relative Density

Recency

 

(Records associated with a range of dates are excluded from time charts)



Migration
Non-migratory.

Habitat
Only chipmunk found regularly in sagebrush area of E. and SW MT. Also found in brushy grasslands, coniferous forests, alpine tundra, and timberline krummholz. Habitat preference influenced by sympatric chipmunk species (Hoffmann and Pattie 1968).

Food Habits
Seeds and berries. Uses berry pits, seeds of grasses, sedges, and weeds. Stores food. Also uses invertebrates.

Ecology
T. minimus ordinarily inhabits lower elev, drier habitats than T. amoenus or T. ruficaudus. However, in Glacier N.P. area, T. minimus occupies the alpine and T. ruficaudus and T. amoenus occur at lower elevations.

Reproductive Characteristics
Breeds soon after emergence. Young are independent within 2 months. (Jones et al. 1983).

Citations & Sources
Additional Sources of Information Related to "Mammals"
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Citation for data on this website:
Least Chipmunk — Tamias minimus.  Montana Field Guide.  Retrieved on February 9, 2010, from http://FieldGuide.mt.gov/detail_AMAFB02020.aspx
 
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