A small, striped ground squirrel native to western North America, characterized by its diminutive size and extensive geographic range across diverse habitats.
Coniferous and mixed forests, alpine meadows, sagebrush steppes, and rocky terrain from Alaska and western Canada through the western United States, ranging from sea level to elevations of 3,500 meters.
Critical seed disperser and prey species, contributing to ecosystem dynamics through seed caching, forest regeneration, and serving as a food source for predators like raptors, foxes, and weasels.
