Fun Siberian Chipmunk Facts For Kids

Who doesn’t like small and cute animals? One such animal is the Siberian chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus). They are furry animals with cute little legs and stripes over them. Siberian chipmunks (Tamias sibiricus) are intelligent and social chipmunks. This species is the only members of the genus tamias which is seen outside North America. While hibernating, the heart rate of Siberian chipmunks can fall from 350 beats to four beats per minute and the body temperature can fall from 94 F (34.4 C) to 40 F (4.44 C). The subspecies of Siberian chipmunk has been categorised into genus tamias and genus eutamias. Their primary diet comprises vegetables, conifer seeds, and nuts of dicotyledonous plants.

The Siberian chipmunk is native to Russia, thanks to the presence of Siberian chipmunk breeders. Here are some fun and interesting facts on Siberian chipmunks that will make you more curious about them. Thereafter, have a look at our other articles on least chipmunk and eastern chipmunk as well.

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What type of animal is a Siberian chipmunk?

The Siberian chipmunk or common chipmunk is one of the smallest members of the rodent family and the only member of the eutamias genus that lives outside North America. They are very clever and social animals who like to talk a lot. This species can be kept as pets but should be given proper care and training. They are usually found across northern Asia, Korea, northern Japan, and China.

What class of animal does a Siberian chipmunk belong to?

The Siberian chipmunk is a member of the rodent family that belongs to the Mammalian class due to its ability to give birth to young ones. It comes under the Rodentia order of the Sciuridae family. Siberian chipmunk’s scientific name is Eutamias sibiricus. Chipmunk is the only member of this genus that is found outside North America.  The primary diet for Siberian chipmunks is vegetables, conifer seeds, and nuts.

How many Siberian chipmunks are there in the world?

There is no accurate estimate of the total number of Siberian chipmunks in the world. The species are widespread and common throughout their habitats. Hence there is no decline in their population.

Where does a Siberian chipmunk live?

Siberian chipmunks are usually found in deciduous and coniferous forests. This species dig in burrows and sometimes build nests. They are the only members of the genus eutamias that live outside North America. They were introduced as pets in Europe from South Korea during the '60s. They are usually seen in northern Japan, China, and Korea.

What is a Siberian chipmunk's habitat?

The Siberian chipmunk is adaptable to any environment ranging from forests to deserts, just like the eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus).  Population of this species can be seen in coniferous and deciduous forests as well as habitats filled with shrubs, mountains, woodlands with bushy vegetation, and small patches of agricultural lands. They are able to survive any habitat and are excellent climbers.

Who do Siberian chipmunks live with?

Siberian  chipmunks can live in colonies where each member has their own space. Sometimes they prefer solitary life too.

How long does a Siberian chipmunk live?

The average lifespan of a Siberian chipmunk varies between 2-5 years in the wild and 6-10 years in captivity. It may differ according to the environment.

How do they reproduce?

The breeding season of Siberian chipmunks occurs after hibernation. They are oviparous and usually have three to eight offspring. Young Siberian chipmunks are born blind and the young ones open their eyes after 20-25 days. Their gestation period is from 28-35 days. The young are looked after by female Siberian chipmunks and after six weeks, they have to be taken out for foraging.

What is their conservation status?

Siberian chipmunks are very common and widespread across their regions. They are labeled as Least Concern status as there is no decline in their population. Hence they do not face any extinction threats.

What do Siberian chipmunk look like?

The Siberian chipmunk is a small animal that belongs to the squirrel family. They are smart and social animals with cute and attractive appearance. Siberian chipmunks have bright colored fur with stripes on them. Their chest and belly are white in color but the back is yellow to brown in color. The stripes on their back are black, brown, and white in color and have a bushy tail. These furry animals have glossy eyes and pudgy cheeks.

How do they communicate?

Siberian chipmunks communicate with each other through sounds and have two vocalizations. For communication, they produce two types of sounds; one is a fast cheeping sound at the time of danger or frightened that sounds like a bird which lasts for 1.5 seconds. The other is a deep croaking sound which is assumed as a sound for mating calls.

How big is a Siberian chipmunk?

The Siberian chipmunk is a small sized animal and has a length of 7-10 in (17.7-25.4 cm). It is much smaller than a rabbit. It is bigger than a white Siberian chipmunk.

How fast can a Siberian chipmunk run?

Siberian chipmunks have an average speed of 21 mph (33.7 kph).

How much does a Siberian chipmunk weigh?

As Siberian chipmunk is a small sized animal, it weighs around 0.11-0.33 lb (3.11-9.35 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

As Siberian chipmunk is a member of the squirrel family with no particular names for males and females. These animals are known as male Siberian chipmunk and female Siberian chipmunk.

What would you call a baby Siberian chipmunk?

A baby Siberian chipmunk is called a pup.

What do they eat?

Siberian chipmunks are omnivores. Their diet includes seeds, grains, fruits, insects, vegetables, lizards, and small birds. Their main predators are cats, birds, and mustelids.

Are they dangerous?

Siberian chipmunks can be dangerous as they can spread diseases like Lyme disease that is transmitted through ticks or rabies. They sometimes bite when provoked or threatened.

Would they make a good pet?

Siberian chipmunks can be good pets if they are trained from a very young age. They are clever and social creatures having a Siberian chipmunk pet can be dangerous as they spread diseases.

Did you know...

Siberian chipmunk’s dwellings are tunnels and have two parts; one for giving birth and the other is a spot for sleeping. Their burrows are comfortable with a lining of grass and leaves.

The average price you will have to pay for a Siberian chipmunk is $150-$600.

During hibernation, Siberian chipmunks appear like as if they are dead.

What is special about the Siberian chipmunk?

Siberian chipmunks have a habit of storing food. They may collect up to 8 lb (3.6 kg) of food in their burrow and this food storing behavior is called scatter hoarding or larder hoarding.

Are Siberian chipmunks an invasive species?

Yes, Siberian chipmunks are an invasive species. These chipmunks are imported to Europe from Asia and sold as pets. But it has become invasive in Northern France and parts of Belgium. In order to prevent this massive spreading, Europe is trying to put a ban on these animals in the pet and also alert tourists on the taking these chipmunks illegally across the borders.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these collared pika facts and American mink facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our eastern chipmunk coloring pages.