Katie's Sightings

Mammals of the Lakes Basin

Lodgepole Chipmunk (?) - Tamias speciosus

There are over 40 mammals that inhabit the Lakes Basin including; Black Bear, Mule Deer, Mountain Lion, Bobcat, Coyote, Gray Fox, Pine Marten, River Otter, Weasel, Skunk, Raccoon, Marmot, Beaver, Mountain Beaver, Porcupine, Jackrabbit, Snowshoe Hare, Cottontail Rabbit, Pika, Flying Squirrel, Douglas Squirrel, Belding's Ground Squirrel, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Chipmunk (5 kinds), Mole, Gopher, Rat (2 kinds), Mice (3 kinds), Vole (2 kinds), Shrew (2 kinds), and Bat (5 kinds)!

I haven't even seen half of these mammals, for several reasons. Firstly, a lot of them are active at night or live underground. Secondly, they are usually very good at being quiet and undetected. Whenever I see a wild animal it is already looking at me and withdrawing from view. Thirdly, they aren't that numerous! Below, is a short account of the mammals I have been lucky enough to photograph in the Lakes Basin!

The cute little Chipmunk above was eating some kind of seed right off the trail. It didn't seem disturbed by us at all, and stayed there until it was done eating! There are at least 5 different kinds of Chipmunks inhabiting the coniferous forests of the Lakes Basin. In the field they are very difficult to identify, as they are so close in coloration. I think the one pictured above might be a Lodgepole Chipmunk, and the one pictured below might be a Long-eared Chipmunk. They are both common in the Lakes Basin.

Long-eared Chipmunk (?) - Tamias quadrimaculatus

Chipmunks are primarily fruit, nut, and seed eaters, but will also eat fungi (primarily truffles), bird eggs, and insects (caterpillars, aphids, termites, ants etc.). They are known for climbing trees and shrubs to find food. They all have fur-lined internal cheek pouches for carrying nuts and seeds. They cache food for winter as they do not hibernate. They sleep most of the winter and awaken periodically to eat. Their nests maybe be in an underground burrow, or in cavities of trees, logs, stumps, or snags.

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel - Spermophilus lateralis

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels are not as commonly seen as Chipmunks, neither are they related. Visually they are easily distinguished from Chipmunks, by the lack of stripes on their head. They also don't climb trees and shrubs to get seeds, but prefer to eat them on the ground. In addition to seeds, nuts, fruits, and fungi, they also eat grasses and leaves. Although not as much of an insect eater as a Chipmunk, they will eat them if they are easily available. These squirrels hibernate in an underground burrow in the winter, and live off their stored body fat!

Your questions and comments are appreciated. Please feel free to email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com. Thanks!