Head to head
Siberian Chipmunk vs Eastern Chipmunk
Siberian Chipmunk
VS Eastern Chipmunk
The Siberian chipmunk and eastern chipmunk are striped, seed-hoarding woodland rodents from opposite sides of the world, one the only chipmunk native to Eurasia and the other a familiar sight in eastern North American woods and gardens.
| Siberian Chipmunk | Eastern Chipmunk | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Eutamias sibiricus | Tamias striatus |
| Native region | Forest from European Russia and Siberia to Korea, northern China, and northern Japan | Eastern North America, from southeastern Canada through the northeastern and midwestern United States |
| Habitat | Forest | Deciduous and mixed forests, forest edges, hedgerows, rocky areas, parks, and suburban gardens |
| Diet | Seeds, nuts, berries, and acorns, along with insects and fungi | Seeds, nuts, acorns, and beech mast above all, plus berries, fungi, insects, worms, and snails |
| Food storage | Carries seeds and nuts in cheek pouches to a larder inside its burrow | Fur-lined cheek pouches stretch to hold dozens of seeds, which it stores in a burrow larder and scattered small caches |
| Winter | Hibernates in its burrow, waking from time to time to eat from its store | Enters torpor rather than true hibernation, waking every few days to eat from its larder |
| Human link | Escaped or released pets have formed wild populations in several European countries | Plants many trees and wildflowers by failing to retrieve some buried seeds |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Siberian Chipmunk vs Eastern Chipmunk: common questions
Are there chipmunks outside North America?
Yes, the Siberian chipmunk is the only chipmunk native to Eurasia, while all other chipmunk species, including the eastern chipmunk, live in North America.
Why is the Siberian chipmunk found in Europe?
Released or escaped pets have formed wild populations in several European countries, where the species is considered invasive.
Which chipmunk 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.