Siberian chipmunk
Tamias sibericus
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Photo credit: ©Jean-Louis Chapuis
Tamias sibericus
Origin and Worldwide Distribution:
Potential or Known Impacts:
How could it get here?
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
Methods for Prevention:
You can help by reporting any sightings: @ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Current Legislative Position (Listed on 03 August 2016)
Tamias sibericus
Common Names:
Habitat:
Description:
- Siberian chipmunk
Habitat:
- The Siberian chipmunk lives in woodland, forests, sub-urban woodlands and parks, and even urban areas.
Description:
- The Siberian chipmunk is a small striped squirrel with a long bushy sandy grey tail, sandy grey fur and two black stripes running from head to tail.
Origin and Worldwide Distribution:
- It was introduced into Europe as a pet in the 1960s. Since then, individuals have most probably escaped or been deliberately released from captivity.
- So far, isolated wild populations have been recorded in woodlands, suburban forests and urban parks in Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands.
Potential or Known Impacts:
- It is suspected to compete with native rodents and may have a local impact on ground-nesting birds, although the numbers of studies investigating its potential impact on biodiversity are currently limited.
- It can also cause significant damage to crops, gardens and orchards and it is a potential host for various infectious diseases, such as Lyme disease or rabies, and parasites.
How could it get here?
- The Siberian chipmunk was a popular as a pet, and some individuals escaped or were released intentionally from captivity.
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
- It has not been recorded in Northern Ireland.
- More distribution information can be found at NBN Atlas NI.
Methods for Prevention:
- A sales ban, the phasing out from zoos, collections and any other ownership, a rapid eradication of any newly emerging populations and the management of established populations should prevent the species from becoming a wider problem.
- Report all sightings.
You can help by reporting any sightings: @ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Current Legislative Position (Listed on 03 August 2016)
- This species must not intentionally be brought into the Union; kept; bred; transported to, from or within the United Kingdom, unless for the transportation to facilities in the context of eradication; placed on the market; used or exchanged; permitted to reproduce, grown or cultivated; or released into the environment.
NIEA-ID-Guide-Tamias-sibiricus-Siberian-Chipmunk-V3-Oct24