The yellow-pine chipmunk is one of the smallest in Oregon, only slightly larger than the least chipmunk. Its face is marked with a dark stripe, followed laterally by two alternate light and dark stripes. The outermost light strip is nearly white.

It occurs on the east slope of the Western Cascades and eastward through most of the remainder of Oregon, except it is absent from most of the Columbia Basin and much of southern Harney, eastern Malheur, and southern Baker counties. Its range also extends westward in the Siskiyou Mountains in southern Jackson and Josephine counties. Ponderosa pine seems to be the common factor in habitats occupied by this species.

Yellow-pine chipmunks are active during the daylight hours, with activity commonly commencing slightly before sunrise, then, following a midday break during hot days, continuing until slightly after sunset.

Photo by Simon Wray, ODFW