Townsend's chipmunk

Description:

Townsend's chipmunks are fairly large as chipmunks go. All this chubby fella wanted to do is eat his pine seeds he had stored in his cheek pouches.

Habitat:

Spotted in the Cascade mountains at 3500 ft. This is probably the eastern most of its range. More often found toward the coast from Southwestern British Columbia southward thru most of western Oregon. Pic 6 shows his home, a large fallen tree and by the looks of it had been there for many years. A perfect habitat for chipmunks, next to the forest (a mature conifer forest) where it can gather food and then scamper back to the safety of the fallen tree.

Notes:

In the wild, Townsend's chipmunks live 2 to 7 years, with an expected lifespan of 5 years. Food availability may be a limiting factor in populations, and might reduce survival and reproduction. There is also a video of this chipmunk eating - sorry for shakiness. https://youtu.be/SD54m8nSs2A