Chipmunk
Neotamias quadrivittatus

1/1250s at f8.0, ISO:1250, Canon EOS-1D X w/800mm, x1.4 converter


The Colorado chipmunk is a species of rodent in the squirrel family Sciuridae. It is endemic to Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico It can be found most often in coniferous forests, woodlands, montage shrub lands, and alpine tundra habitats. Their diet consists of seeds, berries, flowers and insects. (Colorado Division of Wildlife) They like to collect food in the fall and cache it for the winter. Depending on the elevation at which the chipmunk is found, it may range from 1 to 2 litters. Most commonly, copulation occurs in the spring when the chipmunks emerge from their burrows. The females are only receptive of males for a couple of days after emerging from the burrow. About a month after copulation, the female will give birth to a litter that may have anywhere between 5 to 8 altricial young. Within 40 to 50 days they will be weaned from their mother (Nelson, 2009)
Rocky Mountain N.P.
 
08/29/2013