Eastern Chipmunk

Description:

Description: The eastern chipmunk is a small, brightly colored squirrel that can be distinguished from other members of its family by: 1) five conspicuous black stripes running along the back and sides (the two lateral pair separated by pale bands) and fading into the shoulders and rump, 2) striped face, 3) grizzled rusty-red to reddish brown upperparts (brightest on rump and flanks), 4) rather flat, but well-haired tail, blackish above and rufous below, bordered by a fringe of pale gray hairs, and 5) underparts creamy white to buff. Winter coat is paler and less reddish. Females have four nipples; the sexes are alike in color and size.

Habitat:

Eastern chipmunks inhabit the extreme eastern part of Kansas, but are now only common in residential areas. In natural situations, they are likely to be found along wooded bluffs bordering the Missouri River and other waterways. Being mainly a ground-loving mammal (although it readily climbs trees), it inhabits the floor of deciduous forests where the ground is covered with fallen logs and where trees are associated with ledges and outcrops. Two subspecies occur in Kansas, the north-eastern Tamias striatus griseus, and southeastern Tamias striatus venustus

Notes:

I spotted this chipmunk in my son's backyard in an urban area.