Diet and Behavior
Uinta chipmunks are herbivorous. Their primary diet consists of the seeds of coniferous trees such as Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, juniper, and spruce, and on the fruit of local shrubs such as wild roses, raspberries, and chokecherries. They also eat some grass and fungi, and may supplement their diet with small quantities of insects or carrion.
The chipmunks are solitary, diurnal, animals, and are aggressive to other members of their own species, each individual defending a territory of 2 to 5 hectares (4.9 to 12 acres). They establish dens in burrows under rocks, shrubs, or other shelter, or else in natural rock crevices or hollow logs. They spend much of the winter in their dens, but are otherwise highly arboreal, climbing trees to search for food and escape from predators.
The animals have been reported to make a number of different vocalizations, with most common being bursts of sharp "chip" sounds that can continue for up to fifteen minutes, and are made from exposed locations, such as rock outcrops or high branches. Other vocalizations include lower pitched "chuck" sounds, often interspersed with "chips" while fleeing from predators, trills, and squeals.
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