Mammals Active during the day

Siberian Chipmunk

Eutamias sibiricus

iNaturalist Wikipedia

The only chipmunk native to the Old World, the Siberian Chipmunk is a master of the forest floor, known for its iconic racing stripes and tireless food-gathering missions.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

Body length 12–17 cm (4.7–6.7 in), tail 8–15 cm (3.1–5.9 in), weight 50–120 g (1.8–4.2 oz)

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Colors

Reddish-brown or tan upperparts with five dark brown-to-black stripes and four light stripes; creamy white underparts

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Key Features

Five prominent dark longitudinal stripes on back and sides
Long, bushy tail approximately half the body length
Distinct facial stripes through and below the eyes
Internal cheek pouches for transporting large amounts of food
Small, rounded ears with white patches behind them

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 7-10 AM, 3-6 PM

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Season April-October

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Diet Omnivorous granivore; primarily eats pine seeds, acorns, hazelnuts, maple seeds, and berries, but will also eat insects, bird eggs, and small lizards.

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Habitat Coniferous and mixed forests with thick understory, suburban gardens, parks, and rocky areas with brush cover.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Siberian Chipmunk Live?

Native to the vast, chilly landscapes of Northern Asia, the Siberian Chipmunk’s heartland stretches from central Russia and the Ural Mountains through Mongolia, northern China, and the Korean Peninsula, reaching as far east as Hokkaidō in Japan. This resilient species is famously the only chipmunk native to the Old World, thriving in the rugged taiga and temperate forests of the east. Interestingly, it has also established thriving introduced populations across Europe—specifically in France, Belgium, Germany, and Italy—following its popularity in the 1960s pet trade, making it a common sight in many European urban parks today.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

11 Countries

22.5M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

Russia CN China South Korea North Korea JP Japan Mongolia FR France Belgium DE Germany IT Italy NL Netherlands

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Siberian Chipmunk is a highly energetic, diurnal rodent that spends most of its day foraging on the ground, though it is an exceptionally agile climber. Unlike many other small mammals, they are solitary and maintain individual home ranges, though these may overlap. They are famous for their 'larder-hoarding' behavior, where they spend the autumn months obsessively collecting seeds and nuts in their large cheek pouches to stock underground burrows for the winter.

While they are generally wary of predators, they can become quite bold in suburban settings or parks where they have grown accustomed to human presence. When threatened, they emit a sharp, bird-like 'chip' alarm call to warn others. They are true hibernators, disappearing into their complex burrow systems from late October until the first thaws of March or April, depending on the local climate.

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Camera Tips

To capture high-quality footage of Siberian Chipmunks, camera placement is everything. These rodents are primarily ground-dwellers, so position your AI-powered camera very low to the ground—ideally between 6 and 12 inches high. Look for 'highways' such as fallen logs, stone walls, or the base of large trees where they feel secure. Angling the camera slightly downward toward a flat spot near cover will ensure you catch them as they pause to scan for predators.

Because chipmunks are incredibly fast, set your camera to its highest trigger speed and use a short 'retrigger' interval. If your camera supports it, a high-frame-rate video mode is better than still photos, as it captures the frantic, jerky movements that characterize their behavior. If you are using a camera with a fixed focus, try to place it about 3 to 5 feet away from the target area to ensure the animal remains sharp in the frame; any closer and they may appear as a striped blur.

Luring them into the frame is relatively simple with the right treats. A small pile of black oil sunflower seeds, unsalted peanuts, or a smear of peanut butter on a log will almost certainly stop a passing chipmunk in its tracks. For the most natural-looking shots, tuck the bait into a hollow in a log or hide it behind a rock so the chipmunk appears to be foraging naturally in the video. Since they hibernate, focus your efforts during the peak 'caching' season in September and October when they are most active and desperate for food.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Siberian Chipmunk.

Eastern Chipmunk

Native to North America; larger than the Siberian species and lacks stripes on the rump/tail base.

European Ground Squirrel

Lacks the distinct facial and back stripes; has a more uniform, mottled brownish-grey coat.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Siberian Chipmunks are strictly diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. They have two peak activity periods: shortly after sunrise (around 7-10 AM) and again in the late afternoon (3-6 PM), avoiding the most intense midday heat or heavy rain.

You can attract them by providing food sources like sunflower seeds, nuts, and fruit. They also require 'escape cover,' such as rock piles, dense shrubs, or woodpiles, where they can hide from cats and hawks. A low-profile birdbath or water saucer is also a great draw.

Their diet is diverse but focuses on energy-rich seeds and nuts like acorns and pine nuts. They also enjoy berries, mushrooms, and the occasional insect or bird egg. They use their expandable cheek pouches to carry large amounts of food back to their winter burrows.

Yes, they are highly adaptable. In their native Asian range and their introduced European range, they frequently inhabit suburban gardens and city parks, provided there are enough trees and soft soil for them to dig their burrows.

Siberian Chipmunks are much smaller than most tree squirrels and are easily identified by the five dark stripes running down their backs and the stripes on their faces. Unlike squirrels, they spend most of their time on the ground and live in underground burrows rather than leaf nests (dreys).

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