Distinguishing Features
Visually similar to the Least chipmunk,
the Red-tailed Chipmunk is a little larger and more brightly coloured.
Three prominent black dorsal stripes are separated by two medial
grey stripes. Two lateral pale stripes are whitish, with lateral
dark stripes are brownish. The forehead is brown. Cheeks have two
prominent white stripes separated by three brown stripes. Under
side is white. Dorsal side of the tail is rufous with a black submarginal
band. Underside of tail is brick red. Average weight is 60 grams.
(Banfield, 1974).
Distribution
Columbia Basin: Found only in the
Columbia Basin in B.C. from Akamina-Kishinena Provincial Park and
middle Kootenay Pass.
British Columbia: As above
Global: This subspecies
is restricted to western Montana and the Rocky Mountains of extreme
southwestern Alberta and southeastern British Columbia.
Habitat
T. r. ruficaudus
is an inhabitant of subalpine parkland, with its shrubs and scattered
clumps of stunted trees.
Threats
Although the known range in British
Columbia is very small, there are no apparent threats because T.
r. ruficaudus apparently occupies relatively high-elevation
areas that are not greatly affected by human activities. Logging
may increase the abundance of food available to chipmunks and, as
long there is a continued supply of abundant coarse woody debris,
chipmunks may thrive in logged areas (Cannings et al. 1999).
Biology
Like other chipmunks, the Red-tailed
Chipmunk is active mainly April-October; individuals wake periodically
in winter to feed from a food cache. This species feeds on seeds
and fruit of various trees and shrubs, the leaves and flowers of
various forbs, and probably also fungi (Cannings et al. 1999).
