You’re standing at Glacier Point when a small, striped creature darts across your path and disappears into the rocks. Minutes later, at a Valley picnic area, a different animal with a magnificent bushy tail watches you from an oak branch.
Yosemite’s granite cliffs and waterfalls steal the spotlight, but the park’s smallest residents put on quite a show themselves. From the Valley floor at 4,000 feet to the alpine peaks above 13,000 feet, squirrels and chipmunks populate nearly every corner of Yosemite.
You’ll encounter these energetic animals along popular trails, near parking areas, and in the high country backcountry. Learning to identify each species transforms casual wildlife watching into an engaging treasure hunt across different elevation zones.
1. Western Gray Squirrel
The Western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus) ranks among Yosemite’s most elegant tree dwellers, measuring about two feet long with a spectacular bushy gray tail that rivals the body in length. You’ll recognize this species by its silver-gray back, white belly, and that distinctive plume-like tail that serves as both balance beam and blanket.
These squirrels stick to lower elevations in Yosemite Valley where California black oaks dominate the landscape. Look for them in the forests along the Valley Loop Trail, near Yosemite Village, and around Curry Village where oak trees provide their preferred food source.
Western gray squirrels have adapted remarkably to their oak-dependent lifestyle, caching individual acorns in the ground during autumn. Research shows they can dig through several inches of snow in winter to locate buried acorns with impressive accuracy.
Pro Tip: Western gray squirrels remain active year-round rather than hibernating. Early morning hours offer your best viewing opportunities when they’re most active foraging in oak trees.
Unlike ground-dwelling relatives, this species spends nearly its entire life in trees, building large nests of twigs and needles in branches or utilizing natural tree cavities.
The old-growth California black oaks in Yosemite Valley provide abundant hollow spaces for nesting. You’re least likely to spot this species compared to other Yosemite squirrels due to their smaller population density in the Valley and their preference for staying high in the canopy.
The species faced near-extinction in Yosemite during the early 1920s when a scabies epidemic devastated the population. By 1935, researchers conducting an all-day Valley census found only two individuals.
The population rebounded remarkably by the 1940s, and Western gray squirrels now thrive throughout their historic range in the park. Competition from Douglas squirrels in higher elevation conifer forests naturally limits their range to areas where oaks flourish.
2. Douglas Squirrel
The Douglas squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii), affectionately called the chickaree by park rangers, brings constant energy and vocal entertainment to Yosemite’s conifer forests.
This reddish-brown tree squirrel measures roughly one-third the size of the Western gray squirrel, with distinctive features including a reddish-orange belly, white eye ring, and darker brown back.
You’ll likely hear this species before you see it. The chickaree’s extensive vocabulary includes a prolonged high-pitched trill, an insistent single note repeated at intervals, and what rangers describe as bird-like queries that sound like “quer-o” or “whee-o.” When startled, these squirrels unleash what sounds remarkably like colorful language, convincing many visitors that the animals are indeed capable of swearing.
Douglas squirrels inhabit the Canadian and Hudsonian life zones, thriving in mid to high elevation conifer forests from Yosemite Valley upward to the tree line.
Prime viewing locations include Tuolumne Meadows, the Mariposa Grove, and forests along the Glacier Point Road where red firs, white firs, and various pine species dominate. Their range begins at Valley floor elevation but extends much higher than the Western gray squirrel’s oak-limited territory.
These industrious creatures specialize in harvesting conifer cones, particularly from red and white firs in the Canadian Zone. Watch for their distinctive food storage behavior during fall when they cache thin-scaled fir cones by burying them along large logs near their home trees.
Snow provides natural cold storage throughout winter, and you’ll find discarded cone scales and cores scattered along logs come spring, evidence of the chickaree’s winter meals.
Key Insight: Douglas squirrels defend their territories vigorously against other chickarees and vocally resist intrusion from any creature, making them one of the most territorial species you’ll encounter in the Sierra Nevada.
Home sites typically occupy old rotten stubs or tree cavities lined with shredded bark and pine twigs. Their strong sense of territory means each chickaree maintains and defends its own domain throughout the year.
Many park rangers consider the Douglas squirrel their favorite mammal due to its active nature and contribution of lively sounds to otherwise quiet forest reaches.
3. California Ground Squirrel
The California ground squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi) holds the distinction of being the most commonly seen squirrel in Yosemite National Park. You’re virtually guaranteed to encounter this species during your visit, particularly around parking lots, picnic areas, popular trails, and near any location where food is present.
This medium-sized squirrel features mottled brown fur with distinctive white or light brown flecks creating a speckled appearance across its back.
Two white or grayish patches mark the shoulders, and the tail, while hairy on the sides, lacks the impressive bushiness of tree squirrels. Adults measure about 10 inches in body length with a 7-inch tail.
True to its name, this species lives in extensive underground burrow systems rather than trees. Each ground squirrel maintains its own entrance connecting to complex tunnel networks that provide protection from predators and extreme weather.
These burrows dot meadows, rocky areas, and open spaces throughout the Valley and lower elevations of the park.
California ground squirrels possess remarkable defenses against one of their primary predators: rattlesnakes. Adults develop varying levels of immunity to rattlesnake venom as they mature.
Even more fascinating, mother squirrels gather shed rattlesnake skins, lick them, and transfer the scent to their pups, effectively disguising young squirrels from hungry rattlers before they develop their own venom resistance.
When confronted by a rattlesnake, ground squirrels engage in dramatic defensive behaviors including sand-kicking, aggressive tail-waving, and even heating up their tails with increased blood flow to appear larger and signal they’re not worth the hunting effort.
| Behavior | Purpose | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
| Venom immunity | Survive snake bites | High in adults |
| Scent masking | Protect pups | Moderate deterrent |
| Tail heating | Visual warning | Strong deterrent |
| Sand-kicking | Active defense | Immediate protection |
These squirrels hibernate during winter months, spending much of the year building fat storage. You’ll notice them actively begging for food from visitors, but feeding them creates serious problems.
Habituated squirrels have been known to become aggressive, and there’s documented history of plague transmission in the park. In 2015, a child contracted bubonic plague after camping at Crane Flat Campground, and plague-infected squirrel bodies were discovered at Tuolumne Meadows Campground shortly after, leading to campground closures and insecticide treatment.
Important Note: Never feed squirrels or any wildlife in Yosemite. Animals fed by humans can become aggressive, develop disease, and lose their natural foraging behaviors. Keep your distance and secure all food properly.
Recent years have seen increased reports of aggressive squirrel behavior at popular viewpoints like Vernal Fall and Lower Yosemite Falls, where visitors illegally feeding rodents has created habituated populations that actively seek human food. Rangers emphasize that protecting wildlife means resisting their begging, no matter how persistent or charming they appear.
4. Lodgepole Chipmunk
The Lodgepole chipmunk (Neotamias speciosus) thrives in Yosemite’s mid to high elevation coniferous forests, inhabiting the zone where lodgepole pines, Jeffrey pines, ponderosa pines, and various firs dominate the landscape.
This species lives at elevations ranging from approximately 7,000 to 11,000 feet, making it one of the most frequently encountered chipmunks in the park’s higher reaches.
You’ll identify this chipmunk by its characteristic white dorsal and facial stripes, though the central dorsal stripes appear less prominent and closer to yellow-white compared to the brighter lateral white stripes.
The facial stripes extend prominently to the ears and appear darker and broader than those of related chipmunk species. Five distinct dark stripes alternate with four lighter stripes running from nose to rump, creating the classic chipmunk pattern.
The body displays grizzled gray-brown coloring on top with bright orange sides, orange-gray shoulders, and a gray belly and rump.
Female Lodgepole chipmunks grow slightly larger than males, with females averaging 55-69 grams compared to males’ 50-60 grams. The tail measures roughly half the animal’s total body length and lacks the bushiness characteristic of tree squirrels.
This compact size allows them to move quickly across forest floors, over rocks, and up tree trunks when escaping predators.
Lodgepole chipmunks exhibit remarkable behavioral adaptability that sets them apart from their alpine relatives. Research on climate change responses shows these chipmunks take significantly less time to explore new environments and demonstrate bolder, more active personalities compared to alpine chipmunks.
This exploratory behavior correlates with their stable population and range over the past century, even as their mountain habitat has experienced warming temperatures and reduced snowpack.
Common Mistake: Don’t confuse Lodgepole chipmunks with golden-mantled ground squirrels, which also display stripes. Chipmunks are significantly smaller and their facial stripes extend through the face, while ground squirrels lack facial stripes and measure roughly double the size.
Their omnivorous diet includes both animal matter (small mammals, birds, bird eggs, insects, and invertebrates) and plant matter (leaves, flowers, pollen, fungi, and seeds). Like most chipmunks, they engage in extensive food caching to survive winter hibernation.
This foraging behavior provides critical ecosystem services as they disperse seeds and ectomycorrhizal fungi throughout their habitat. The fungi they spread helps trees absorb more water and nutrients, making Lodgepole chipmunks essential to forest health.
When threatened by predators like coyotes, foxes, hawks, bobcats, or martens, Lodgepole chipmunks climb trees rapidly to seek safety.
Their color patterns provide natural camouflage against forest floors and tree bark. Communication includes various vocalizations: chips and whistles during courtship, and alert calls including a high-pitched “whisk,” shrill “tsew,” and rapid series of “pst-pst-pst-a-ku” sounds when frightened.
Look for these chipmunks foraging around and atop rocks and fallen logs throughout the lodgepole pine zone. Popular viewing areas include the forests along Tioga Road, areas around Tenaya Lake, and trails through mid-elevation conifer forests where their preferred habitat conditions exist.
5. Long-Eared Chipmunk
The Long-eared chipmunk (Neotamias quadrimaculatus) inhabits Yosemite’s forests at various elevations, though you’ll most commonly spot this species in areas where chaparral meets conifer forests.
As the common name suggests, this chipmunk displays noticeably larger ears compared to other chipmunk species in the region, making identification relatively straightforward once you observe the animal closely.
This species exhibits the typical chipmunk striping pattern with alternating dark and light stripes running along the back, though the overall coloration tends toward grayish-brown with reddish undertones on the sides and face.
The ears stand out as the key field mark, appearing proportionally larger and more prominent than those of the similar-sized Lodgepole chipmunk. The tail shows moderate bushiness with dark and light banding.
Long-eared chipmunks adapt to diverse forest types within their range, including mixed conifer forests, oak woodlands, and areas where different vegetation zones transition.
This habitat flexibility allows them to occupy a broader ecological niche compared to more specialized species. They’re particularly associated with forest edges, rocky outcrops, and areas with abundant cover from shrubs and fallen logs.
Their diet mirrors that of other chipmunk species, consisting of seeds, nuts, fruits, fungi, insects, and occasional plant material. Food caching behavior remains essential for winter survival, with individuals storing supplies in multiple underground chambers connected to their burrow systems.
These chipmunks demonstrate the same industrious food-gathering habits as their relatives, spending considerable time during late summer and fall preparing for winter dormancy.
The species maintains burrow systems in rocky areas, under logs, or in root systems of large trees. Unlike the strictly ground-dwelling California ground squirrel, Long-eared chipmunks climb trees readily when foraging or escaping predators, though they spend most of their time on the forest floor.
Vocalizations include typical chipmunk chips and trills used for territorial defense and predator warnings. When alarmed, these chipmunks emit sharp chirping sounds while flicking their tails rapidly. During breeding season in spring, you’ll observe increased activity and vocal exchanges between individuals.
Finding Long-eared chipmunks requires visiting appropriate elevations and habitat types. Look for them in areas where the Merced Grove of Giant Sequoias transitions to mixed forest, along trails through mid-elevation forests with diverse vegetation, and in rocky areas where forest meets open spaces.
They’re less commonly observed than California ground squirrels or Lodgepole chipmunks, but patient observers will be rewarded in suitable habitat.
6. Alpine Chipmunk
The Alpine chipmunk (Neotamias alpinus) represents the high-elevation specialist of Yosemite’s chipmunk species, inhabiting only the most extreme environments above the tree line.
This tiny animal, weighing approximately 45 grams (less than two ounces), lives exclusively at elevations between 9,000 and 13,000 feet in the alpine zone where harsh conditions test survival abilities.
You’ll find Alpine chipmunks only in Yosemite’s remote high country, making them the most challenging species on this list to observe. Their limited habitat includes the areas around Mount Dana, the peaks surrounding Tuolumne Meadows, and other alpine zones where tundra grasses, sedges, and low-growing vegetation dominate.
The environment above tree line offers just five months maximum of available plant growth annually, forcing these chipmunks to compress their entire active season into summer’s brief window.
Physical characteristics follow the standard chipmunk pattern with distinctive stripes, though Alpine chipmunks display paler, more subdued coloring that provides camouflage against granite rocks and sparse alpine vegetation. Their small size represents an adaptation to their resource-limited environment.
The species exhibits the typical dark and light striping along the back, though overall coloration tends toward tawny-gray with less vibrant contrast than lower-elevation relatives.
Research reveals fascinating insights into how climate change affects this specialized species. Over the past century, Alpine chipmunk populations have experienced range contraction as they’ve moved to increasingly higher elevations seeking cooler habitat.
This upward migration mirrors patterns seen in many high-elevation species responding to warming temperatures. However, their options for further upward movement are limited—there’s simply no more mountain left above their current range.
Behavioral studies show Alpine chipmunks display markedly different personalities compared to Lodgepole chipmunks. They demonstrate greater hesitancy when exploring new environments, taking significantly longer to enter unfamiliar areas and showing less activity once inside.
This cautious behavior correlates with their physiological stress responses. Scientists measuring stress hormone levels found that increased midday temperatures elevate stress hormones in Alpine chipmunks but not in Lodgepole chipmunks, suggesting the alpine species has become more specialized and less adaptable to changing conditions.
| Species Trait | Alpine Chipmunk | Lodgepole Chipmunk |
|---|---|---|
| Elevation range | 9,000-13,000 ft | 7,000-11,000 ft |
| Exploratory behavior | Hesitant, cautious | Bold, active |
| Temperature stress | High sensitivity | Low sensitivity |
| Range change (100 years) | Shrinking upward | Stable |
| Climate adaptation strategy | Specialist | Generalist |
Individual Alpine chipmunks vary little in their daily activity patterns, remaining active only when temperatures fall within their optimal range. This temperature sensitivity contrasts sharply with the more flexible Lodgepole chipmunk, which continues thriving in its historic range despite environmental changes.
The Alpine chipmunk’s habitat specialization may result from individuals less equipped to cope with suboptimal conditions and therefore less likely to engage with unfamiliar environments.
Despite their highly localized habitat and the threats posed by climate change, Alpine chipmunks are not currently listed as threatened. However, conservation biologists express concern about their future.
If global warming continues allowing tree lines to move upward, the already limited alpine habitat will shrink further, potentially squeezing this specialized species into increasingly smaller refuges at mountain peaks.
Key Insight: Alpine chipmunks demonstrate how ecological specialists face greater vulnerability to environmental change compared to generalist species, offering important insights into conservation priorities as climate patterns shift.
Their diet consists of alpine plant seeds, flowers, and the limited invertebrates available in their harsh environment. Food caching remains critical given the extended winter period when deep snow buries their habitat for seven or more months annually. Predators include hawks, Clark’s nutcrackers, and occasional forays by terrestrial predators like weasels and coyotes into alpine zones.
Observing Alpine chipmunks requires hiking into Yosemite’s high country during summer months when snow has melted and the animals emerge from hibernation.
The areas around Tioga Pass, trails leading to Mount Dana summit, and the alpine zones near Gaylor Lakes offer your best opportunities. Bring patience, binoculars, and warm layers—conditions change rapidly above tree line, and the animals remain active only during optimal temperature windows.
Yosemite’s six squirrel and chipmunk species each tell a story about adaptation, elevation, and survival in one of America’s most iconic landscapes.
From the vocal Douglas squirrel animating conifer forests to the tiny Alpine chipmunk clinging to existence above tree line, these small mammals offer endless opportunities for observation and appreciation.
Remember to keep your distance, never feed wildlife, and secure all food properly. Your responsible behavior ensures these remarkable animals continue thriving in their natural behaviors for future generations to discover and enjoy.
