Did you know that the Siberian Chipmunk is the only member of their genus that lives outside of North America? That’s right, unlike the Eastern Chipmunk or the Least Chipmunk, this little fella prefers to live in Russia, China and northern Japan. These diurnal animals are typically found in the undergrowth of the woodland habitats they reside in. Although this may seem like a great time of year to visit Siberia, you probably won’t see too many chipmunks running around as they tend to seek warmth and shelter for much of the winter months. So it is best to wait for summer before venturing out to northern Russia.

Grounded

Despite having needlepoint claws adapted to climbing, you will typically find the Siberian Chipmunk living in lodges built along the forest floor, which provides them cover from a vast array of hungry predators.  Much like other chipmunks, this species needs to be on the constant lookout for birds of prey, weasels, cats and any other animal that is looking for a quick snack. Although, in some cases, the Siberian Chipmunk is the one that should be feared as they have been known to infect people with rabies through a simple little bit. Just another lesson in life – no matter how cute and small the animal is….use caution!

The Deadly Prey

It is actually kind of odd to think of the Siberian Chipmunk passing along viruses since they are incredibly hygienic. This particular chipmunk is known for constantly grooming themselves from head to tail. In fact, they have been witnessed cleaning one another. I guess this is one way to ensure that mud and dirt doesn’t get tracked into their nice forest home.  I can imagine this animal would get quite filthy considering they like to bury their food about 6 cm (2.3″) beneath the surface.

And we all know how difficult it would be to get dirt out from your needlepoint claws.

Siberian Chipmunk Fast Fact

Although, this animal may carry rabies, that has not stopped pet enthusiast from welcoming this little chipmunk into their home. If you are thinking of getting one as a pet, you will need an incredibly large cage that provides this chipmunk with lots of climbing opportunities. It sounds like a lot of work keeping the Siberian Chipmunk as a pet so I suggest just letting them live in the wild…..where they belong.