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The chipmunk is a small rodent in the squirrel family. The eastern chipmunk, known as Tamias, are found in eastern North America. Eutamias are found in western North America and Asia.
CHARACTERISTICS
The fur of the chipmunk is reddish-brown, with a series of white and black stripes running down the back from the nose to the base of the tail area. Tails are bushy and long, often measuring half their body size. Chipmunks are 5-8-inches long, excluding the tail.
The head of the chipmunk is small. Two, tiny erect ears stand upright at the top of the head and black and white stripes line each dark, side-set eye. The chipmunk's familiar cheek pouches extend from the sides of the mouth to as far as the shoulder area.
Chipmunks are vocal rodents, producing a loud "chipping" noise or trill which is often mistaken for bird calls. When this animal is frightened, it gives out a quick series of squeaks and loud chips. The female chipmunk is also especially vocal during mating season.
EATING HABITS
The chipmunk spends most of its time collecting and storing food. This rodent forages on the ground for seeds and can also be found climbing trees or shrubs to harvest nuts and fruit. Chipmunks eat a varied diet, including birds' eggs, insects, worms, mushrooms and when need be, small mammals or birds.
BURROWS
Chipmunks live in burrows made of an intricate series of tunnels and chambers below ground level. Entrances to burrows are well hidden, usually located under rocks or in bushes. A nesting area lined with grasses and leaves is located at the lowest depth. Just beneath the nest the chipmunk stores its food.
STORING FOOD
The chipmunk is perhaps most well known for its puffy, furry cheeks, which hold and carry food from place to place. The chipmunk picks up fruit, seeds or nuts with its front paws and then with its incisors, removes seeds (or other nutrients )from pods. Its tongue then shifts the seeds backwards, stuffing them between its teeth and the cheek area. The chipmunk then continues to collect food until the pouch area is full, at which time it deposits the seeds in its nest or buries them for safe keeping. The cheek pouch size of the chipmunk increases with age.
REPRODUCTION AND GROWTH
Breeding of the chipmunk takes place in early spring near the female's burrow. Many males often compete for a female, and males commonly impregnate more than one chipmunk during breeding season. At the end of the 30-day gestation period, the female produces a litter of 4-6 naked, blind young.
At the age of 10 days, the young chipmunks begin to grow hair. Their ears open on the 28th day of life, and eyes open at 33 days. The young stay with their mother until they are 4-7 weeks old, at which time they begin to forage on their own. Within five months, the young will mature to adult size and be ready to breed the following spring.
HIBERNATION
During late summer, chipmunks begin to collect and store seeds for hibernation. An appropriate amount of stored food will enable the hibernating rodent to survive the winter.
In late November, chipmunks head underground to their burrows, where they will spend the entire winter. Chipmunks are one of the first animals to emerge in early spring.
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