Palmer’s Chipmunks live in a “sky island”— Mount Charleston in southwestern Nevada, surrounded by a desert that the chipmunks cannot cross. These mammals are unique to this area. They occur here and nowhere else in the world.
This species only lives at higher elevations in the Yellow Pine Forest, Pine-Fir Forest and Bristlecone Pine Forest Life Zones. This species can be locally abundant, but is very limited in distribution. The total adult population size is unknown.
The name “chipmunk” is derived from the chipping noises these animals make with their teeth. Loud trilling type noises are used to call to potential mates, as well as in defending territories.
It rarely ventures far from shelter among large rocks, logs, or cliff crevices. Dens are typically on or near the ground but sometimes it nests in trees in cavities made by woodpeckers.
Palmer’s Chipmunks are omnivorous. Their diet includes seeds, fruits, various plants, fungus, and invertebrates such as worms, snails and insect larvae. Bird eggs and small mice are occasionally eaten.