Head to head
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel vs Eastern Chipmunk
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
VS Eastern Chipmunk
The golden-mantled ground squirrel is often mistaken for a chipmunk, which makes this a comparison between a look-alike and the genuine article, the eastern chipmunk of eastern North American forests.
| Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel | Eastern Chipmunk | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Callospermophilus lateralis | Tamias striatus |
| Size | Larger and stockier | Smaller |
| Face | No stripes on the face | Striped on the face, like chipmunks generally |
| Habitat | Mountain and forest habitat of the West | Deciduous and mixed forests, edges, parks, and gardens of the East |
| Food storage | Stores food in cheek pouches | Stretchy cheek pouches and scattered buried seed caches |
| Winter | Hibernates in a burrow after fattening up | Torpor, waking every few days to eat from its larder |
| Social life | Not specifically documented | Adults live alone, defending their own burrow |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel vs Eastern Chipmunk: common questions
How can you tell a golden-mantled ground squirrel from a chipmunk?
It is larger and stockier, and although it has side stripes, it has no stripes on its face, unlike chipmunks such as the eastern chipmunk.
Which one plants trees by accident?
The eastern chipmunk, which buries seeds and nuts in scattered caches and fails to retrieve some, helping plant the trees and wildflowers of its forest.
Where do the golden-mantled ground squirrel and eastern chipmunk live?
The golden-mantled ground squirrel lives in western mountains such as the Rockies, while the eastern chipmunk lives in forests, edges, and gardens across eastern North America.