Mammals diurnal

Red-tailed Chipmunk

Neotamias ruficaudus

The Red-tailed Chipmunk is the fiery-colored acrobat of the Northern Rockies, distinguished by its vibrant russet tail and energetic mountain lifestyle.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Total length 22-25 cm (8.7-9.8 in); weight 50-70 g (1.8-2.5 oz)

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Colors

Greyish-brown upper body with five dark dorsal stripes; most distinguished by the bright reddish-orange (rufous) underside of the tail.

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Key Features

Vibrant reddish-orange underside of the tail
Five dark stripes along the back separated by four lighter stripes
Prominent white stripes above and below the eyes
Relatively large and robust compared to other western chipmunks

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 7-10 AM and 4-7 PM

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Season May-September

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Diet Omnivorous, focusing on conifer seeds, huckleberries, wild strawberries, fungi, and occasionally insects or bird eggs.

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Habitat Coniferous forests, subalpine slopes, and dense brushy areas near forest edges.

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Behavior

Red-tailed chipmunks are the acrobats of the mountain forests. Unlike many of their cousins who prefer to stay grounded, these chipmunks are remarkably arboreal, often seen scurrying high into the canopies of subalpine firs and Engelmann spruces to harvest cones. They are highly territorial and will defend their preferred foraging spots with a series of sharp 'chip' and 'chuck' vocalizations.

In the wild, they are solitary creatures except during the breeding season. They are industrious foragers, spending much of the late summer and early autumn gathering seeds to store in underground burrows for the winter. While they do hibernate, they don't store body fat like bears; instead, they wake up periodically throughout the winter to snack on their hidden caches.

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Camera Tips

To capture high-quality footage of a Red-tailed Chipmunk, you need to think vertically. While standard trail cameras are often pointed at the ground, these chipmunks love 'wildlife highways'—fallen logs, low-hanging branches, and stone walls. Mount your camera about 12 to 18 inches off the ground, aiming it along the length of a fallen log. This increases the 'dwell time' the animal spends in the frame as it traverses the log.

Baiting can be very effective for bringing them into focus. A small pile of black oil sunflower seeds or raw, unsalted peanuts placed on a flat mossy rock or stump will keep them stationary long enough for a clear shot. If you want to see their unique climbing behavior, try wedging a cob of dried corn or a handful of seeds into the bark of a tree at chest height and angling your camera upward.

Because these animals are incredibly fast, camera settings are crucial. Use a 'High' or 'Fast' trigger speed setting to avoid capturing just a blur of a tail. A short trigger interval of 0.5 to 1 second is ideal. If your camera has a burst mode, set it to take 3-5 photos per trigger. This ensures you get at least one sharp image where the stripes and the red tail underside are clearly visible for identification.

Seasonality plays a big role in your success. The best time to deploy your camera is late August through September. During this period, their 'caching' instinct kicks in, and they become much more active and less cautious as they frantically gather food for the winter. Look for areas with heavy cone crops or nearby berry bushes to find the highest concentration of activity.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Red-tailed Chipmunk.

Yellow-pine Chipmunk

Slightly smaller with a tail that is yellowish or cinnamon underneath, rather than bright red.

Least Chipmunk

Smaller and more grey in appearance, with a much thinner tail and a preference for more open, sagebrush habitats.

Frequently Asked Questions

They are strictly diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. You will see them most frequently in the early morning shortly after sunrise and again in the late afternoon before dusk.

The best way to attract them is by providing natural cover like brush piles or rock walls, and offering food sources like sunflower seeds, nuts, and native berry-producing shrubs.

Their diet consists mainly of seeds from coniferous trees, various wild berries, mushrooms, and occasionally insects or small bird eggs.

They are less common in urban centers than the Least Chipmunk, but they are frequently found in suburban backyards that border coniferous forests or mountain foothills.

Look at the tail! The Red-tailed Chipmunk has a much brighter, more vivid orange-red color on the underside of its tail compared to the more muted yellowish or greyish tones of similar species like the Yellow-pine Chipmunk.

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