Siberian chipmunk

Eutamias sibiricus

A small chipmunk of northern Asian forests, with five dark back stripes and cheek pouches for carrying seeds.

Key facts

Siberian chipmunk (Eutamias sibiricus) is an omnivore animal classified as Mammal · Rodentia · Sciuridae.
Primary habitats are forest · grassland · urban, with a range across Palearctic.
Activity is diurnal, sociality is solitary, and conservation status is LC (Least Concern).
A small chipmunk of northern Asian forests, with five dark back stripes and cheek pouches for carrying seeds.
Lives in conifer and deciduous forests, edges, scrub, and parks where burrows can be made under logs or rocks.

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Lives in conifer and deciduous forests, edges, scrub, and parks where burrows can be made under logs or rocks.

The back is yellowish brown with clear dark and pale stripes. The body is small, the tail slender, and cheek pouches are well developed.

It runs on the ground by day and also climbs. In autumn it carries seeds to burrows and hibernates in cold regions.

Seeds, nuts, fruit, buds, fungi, and insects are eaten, with cheek pouches allowing large loads to be moved.

Young are born in underground burrows. Calls are used during the breeding season, and the mother raises the litter.

Globally low-risk; released or escaped pets have established introduced populations in parts of Europe.