A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Neotamias merriami
Brown, gray and black chipmunk with black stripes on face and down the back.
Unknown bush in coastal scrub and Oak forest of Daley Ranch. It was about 1,300 feet / 396 meters in elevation.
I've been unable to locate a species recorded in this area but there are some nearby. "The only chipmunk that inhabits San Diego County is the Merriam's chipmunk. It is common and occurs widely from the inland valleys east to the western edge of the desert. Typical habitat is chaparral, oak woodland, and oak-pine woodland but I have observed them in desert transition habitat in the county." - Dept of Fish and Game
Spotted on Jul 29, 2012
Submitted on Jul 30, 2012
11 Comments
I have never seen one, great capture.
I received a reply from the Ca Dept of Fish & Game. Apparently this species is common so I'll contact the various reference sites I looked at and share the information with them.
Awesome. Thanks again Jellis!
The othe name for California chipmunk is Dusty
Not sure but I always contact Dept Fish,game&wildlife
Thank you for the wonderful links! Since the various documentation doesn't show Chipmunks in the area, I wonder who I should contact to have the data updated. Any ideas?
http://www.crittergetteronline.com/Chipm...
Panamint Chipmuck range is in nearer the Nevada border. And is named because of the area it's in. Panamint Valley
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panamint_ch...
Merriam's is probably Southern Calif and the only other prospect would be the California Chipmunk which ranges the most southern California and into Baja.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_...
Thank you Sachin!
Jellis, you may be right. It seems to be the closest recorded species. The facial markings didn't seem right but there may be variation within the species.
lovely,
Might be a Merriam's Chipmunk Tamias merriami