Snack Time

Commonly and erroneously referred to as a “chipmunk,’ the “Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel” (callospermophilus lateralis) resides throughout the Rocky Mountain West from Canada to New Mexico, California and Arizona. A russet to golden mantle on its neck and shoulders gives rise to its common name.

The “real” chipmunk is smaller, has more stripes on its body and on its head, which the golden-mantled squirrel does not. The golden-mantled also has cheek pouches for storing food, a trait which many a tourist find irresistibly cute and endearing as they feed it some snacks and watch it stuff its cheeks until it seems there could not possibly be any more room.

The little creatures hibernate through the winter and breed just after emerging from hibernation. With about a four-week gestation period, the females will give birth to an average of five of the little rodents. Paternal care is lacking and within 40 days, the young will largely resemble their parents. They may live on average, seven years. The omnivorous animals subsist on a diet of pine nuts, acorns, herbs, shrubs, mushrooms, insects like grasshoppers, eggs and carrion, and where tourists are present, will quickly learn to accept human snacks as the one pictured here.

This photo was taken in early August atop Peak Eight at Breckenridge Ski Area. Ones that have become use to human presence often provide amusement for visitors to their domains, begging for food, stuffing it into their cheeks, and even climbing up on people to obtain a snack. Wildlife officials discourage feeding them so they do not develop a propensity for human food and continue to thrive on a natural diet.

Photo taken 08/2013