Tamias amoenus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	SCIURIDAE

Scientific Name:

Tamias amoenus

Species Authority:

J.A. Allen, 1890

Common Name/s:

English

–

Yellow-pine Chipmunk

Synonym/s:

Neotamias amoenus J.A. Allen, 1890

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Linzey, A.V. & NatureServe (Hammerson, G.)

Reviewer/s:

Amori, G., Koprowski, J. & Roth, L. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority)

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern because it is widespread, common, and there are no major threats.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/least concern (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species occurs in Western North America, from central British Columbia and southwestern Alberta in Canada, south to Yolla Bolly Range and Mammoth Pass in California, northern Nevada, and northwestern Utah, east to central Montana and western Wyoming; at elevations of 975-2,900 m asl in California (Sutton 1992; Hoffmann et al., in Wilson and Reeder 1993).
Countries:	Native: Canada (Alberta, British Columbia); United States (California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Population density is reported as 1.25 per ha, with little fluctuation over time. It can be locally abundant.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It generally occurs in brushy areas interspersed with herbaceous vegetation and open conifer stands; shrubs typically present include snowberry, chinquapin, mountain mahogany, antelope brush, currant, and buckbrush (Sutton 1992). It is found among logs, brush, and rocky outcrops. Also in brushy areas between subalpine forest and alpine tundra, and in alpine areas themselves. Digs burrows 7-21 inches deep. Constructs grass nest in burrow under stump, log, or rock; also nests above ground in woody vegetation. Breeds in early spring. Average litter size is five (Washington) to six (California). Usually one litter per year is produced in Washington Cascades (Kenagy and Barnes 1988). Young are born from mid-May to early June (Banfield 1974) and weaned in about six weeks. May live up to five years. Home range is a few acres, parts of which may be used seasonally (Sutton 1992). Easy prey for many kinds of predators. Competitive interactions with other chipmunk species may limit habitat use. Diet consists of seeds, fruits, green foliage, flowers, roots, buds, bulbs, tubers, fungi, and small animals. Caches food in burrow and in scattered pits dug in soil surface. Hibernates late fall-early spring. May become lethargic during cold summer weather. Stores little energy as body fat; awakens periodically in winter to feed on stored seeds (Banfield 1974, Sutton 1992).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It generally occurs in brushy areas interspersed with herbaceous vegetation and open conifer stands; shrubs typically present include snowberry, chinquapin, mountain mahogany, antelope brush, currant, and buckbrush (Sutton 1992). It is found among logs, brush, and rocky outcrops. Also in brushy areas between subalpine forest and alpine tundra, and in alpine areas themselves. Digs burrows 7-21 inches deep. Constructs grass nest in burrow under stump, log, or rock; also nests above ground in woody vegetation.

Breeds in early spring. Average litter size is five (Washington) to six (California). Usually one litter per year is produced in Washington Cascades (Kenagy and Barnes 1988). Young are born from mid-May to early June (Banfield 1974) and weaned in about six weeks. May live up to five years.

Home range is a few acres, parts of which may be used seasonally (Sutton 1992). Easy prey for many kinds of predators. Competitive interactions with other chipmunk species may limit habitat use. Diet consists of seeds, fruits, green foliage, flowers, roots, buds, bulbs, tubers, fungi, and small animals. Caches food in burrow and in scattered pits dug in soil surface. Hibernates late fall-early spring. May become lethargic during cold summer weather. Stores little energy as body fat; awakens periodically in winter to feed on stored seeds (Banfield 1974, Sutton 1992).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are no major threats to this species.

Major Threat(s):

There are no major threats to this species.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species is not of conservation concern and its range includes several protected areas.

Conservation Actions:

This species is not of conservation concern and its range includes several protected areas.

Citation:	Linzey, A.V. & Hammerson, G. 2008. Tamias amoenus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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