Chipmunk vs. Ground Squirrel

Had some guests from the east coast, and the question came of what is the difference between a chipmunk and ground squirrel (if any) since one or the other is running all over the place here.

I searched the web and saw some descriptions, but couldn't find a side-by-side photo. So I went outside today and what do you think I saw (a bit blurry with full zoom)...



So if the question ever comes up for you and you're not sure, the chipmunk is on the left. The most obvious difference is the chipmunk has stripes going from his back to his face, where the ground squirrel just has stripes on the back. The chipmunk is also smaller, and generally runs with his tail up. Plus he has pouches in his cheeks to store food, where the ground squirrel doesn't.

Hope that helps! lol

Sp what's bigger than a ground squirrel and has no stripes?

pacamom wrote: Sp what's bigger than a ground squirrel and has no stripes?

An elephant. Do I get a prize?

pacamom - prairie dogs. Yes, we do indeed have some up here. There's a trio who loves to play in the road near the Bailey library.

(The ground squirrel up there at the top of this thread is a golden mantled ground squirrel. As opposed to a 13 line ground sq. )

I think what I have in addition to the two in the photo are Richardson's ground squirrel. Bigger than the other two but not as big as a prairie dog. And it doesn't have the big belly of a prairie dog.

I also have one of these that visits the pond every day.

Science Chic wrote: I was really hoping for a video...WWE-style...feeling letdown here PITG!

Picky, picky...

Hey, that photo is a 285bound exclusive. As I mentioned, I searched the web to find a photo of two of them side-by-side and couldn't find one other than two dead ones.

We should copyright that photo. It's probably worth something.


BTW, the secret is to crazy glue their little feet to the rock...

Isn't the black one an Ebert squirrel? (this without bothering to search)

It's called an Abert's squirrel.