Ground Squirrel

Very cute!

That certainly goes a long way to explaining the lack of facial stripes.

Thanks all for the compliments, that little guy was throwing me some nice poses which made it easy to get a great photo. Thanks skinheaddave, that's great info! Your research inspired me to conduct some range specific species searches as well. Perhaps the reason it's been difficult to figure out what kind of Chipmunk this is, is because he's in fact a squirrel. Seems to perfectly fit the description of Spermophilus lateralis, the golden-mantled ground squirrel. Your thoughts?

Adorable!

Very nice shots! He's a great little poser!

I've done some more research etc. and I think I was right. See how the red colouration really doesn't extend much beyond the shoulders? I'm going to stick with ruficaudus. The other three species found in Canada have that red colouration much further down the back/belly. T.minimus has stripes that extend further down the back and I've yet to see a picture of one sans facial stripes. It doesn't have enough dorsal stripes to be amoenus. In addition to the colouration of the sides and being out of range for striatus, it doesn't seem to have a median dorsal stripe. Might just be a variant of some sort .. but if you add it all up then you have to conclude red tailed.

Thanks all! I added a couple more pictures to possibly aid in identification.

I would have said Eastern but you seem to be out of range. I don't think it is a least or yellow-pine.

Very cute!