Chipmunk or Ground Squirrel?

These Critters Are Not The Same

Story and photos by Reid Neureiter

For the GPHN

Anyone who has hiked in the foothills west of Denver or the trails of Rocky Mountain National Park has encountered (some would say “harassed”) by small, brown, striped rodents looking for crumbs of sandwich or the odd tortilla chip.

One might be prompted to say, “What a cute chipmunk!” But about half the time, one would be wrong.

The Least Chipmunk (Neotamias minimus) is the smallest member of the squirrel family inhabiting the mountainous regions of Colorado. But a similar looking and behaving creature is the golden-mantled ground squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis).

The ground squirrel is larger, usually 9 to 11 inches long, including the tail, while the chipmunk is only 6 to 9 inches long, with a bushier tail. The main identifying difference between the species, besides size, is that the chipmunk has stripes on its face, while the ground squirrel lacks facial stripes and has a golden, tawny color across its shoulders (its mantle). The chipmunk is also more rapid and nervous in its movements compared to the squirrel.

Both species of rodent will be busy storing nuts and other food in caches near their burrows as they prepare for the long winter ahead.