Tamias minimus
Silhouette: Chloé Schmidt · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%
The least chipmunk (Neotamias minimus) is the smallest species of chipmunk and the most widespread in North America. It is the smallest species of chipmunk, measuring about 15.7–25 cm (6.2–9.8 in) in total length with a weight of 25–66 g (0.88–2.33 oz). The body is gray to reddish-brown on the sides, and grayish white on the underparts. The back is marked with five dark brown to black stripes separated by four white or cream-colored stripes, all of which run from the nape of the neck to the base of the tail. Two light and two dark stripes mark the face, running from the tip of the nose to the ears. The bushy tail is orange-brown in color, and measures 10–11 cm (3.9–4.3 in) long. In some areas, where range overlap with the yellow-pine chipmunk occurs, it may be difficult or impossible to distinguish the two species in the field; laboratory examination of skeletal structures may be required.
As in other chipmunks, there are four toes on each of the forefeet and five on the hindfeet. Females have eight teats. The brain to body mass ratio for least chipmunks is lower than that for other species of chipmunk living in the same area, suggesting that they prefer less complex... Wikipedia →
Recording0:13
Canada · 2025
© olivia gilbert · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
Recording0:31
United States · 2023
© kericolabroy · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
Recording0:14
Canada · 2023
© jillyhurst42 · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Badlands National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Kluane National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 3 | Jasper National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 4 | Rocky Mountain National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Banff National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 6 | Grand Teton National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Yellowstone National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Glacier National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Riding Mountain National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 10 | Grand Canyon National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Least Chipmunk sighting in Yellowstone National Park on a given day, based on 94 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 18th most-seen of the 32 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.
September
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Least Chipmunk in Yellowstone National Park on a given day, against under 5% in December to March, the lowest months.
Between 8 and 11 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Least Chipmunk sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
7th of 10
Of the 10 parks where we can rate Least Chipmunk sightings, Yellowstone National Park ranks 7th at about 20%. The best odds are in Badlands National Park (United States, about 60%), Kluane National Park (Canada, about 50%) and Jasper National Park (Canada, about 30%). All parks ranked.
Same genus: Tamias
The closest relatives of the Least Chipmunk that you can see in Yellowstone National Park (genus Tamias, Eastern Chipmunks) are Yellow-pine Chipmunk (about 20%) and Uinta Chipmunk (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Least Chipmunk is recorded against all the mammals logged in Yellowstone National Park (94 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
