ChipmunkChipmunkSmall Runners!
Eastern Chipmunk is called Tamias Striatus
Part of the Squirrel family Eastern Chipmunk is one of 25
different species of chipmunks
Reddish brown with 5 black stripes down their back, outlining a white stripe on each side
White stripe above their eyes
Small ears, dark eyes and a small nose
Adults measure 5-6 inches long, 2.8-3.2 ounces
Nuts and seeds Fruits and vegetables Sometimes eat worms, eggs, small
birds, mice, frogs and small snakes
Found in forests ranging from Southern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, except for parts of the Southeast.
Make their burrows in forests and in suburban yards and city parks
Entrance to the burrow is 1.5-2 inches big
Burrow is 10-30 feet underground
They use lots of grasses ,sticks and dry leaves
Their burrows are lined with 6 to 8 inches of grass
A chipmunks burrow has no mound of dirt around it to attract predators
Burrows have several chambers for sleeping, eating, storing food and going to the bathroom
Chipmunks are not real hibernators, but they stay in their burrows during Winter
Body temperature and heart rate slows down
They wake up every 2 or 3 days to eat and defecate
Chipmunks hibernate from late October until March or April
Eastern chipmunks mate twice a year
March to Early April June to mid-July
Females are pregnant for 31 days
Males do not help raise young
Two to five are born in a litter
They are hairless and blind
They open their eyes at 3 weeks old
They come out of burrow for the first time at 40 days old
Two weeks later, the mother refuses to let them back into burrow, and they are on their own
They spend their days gathering nuts and food
They are “diurnal,” which means active during the day
They store food in their burrow for the winter
They are solitary except for when they mate
Males chase and sometimes bite each other to compete for females
They are vocal animals They make “chips” and
“chip trills” They also make soft “cuk-
cuk-cuk” sounds Sounds warn of predators Males make noises when
they compete for females
Chipmunks can live to 8 years, but most only survive 2-3 years
Their many predators include owls , hawks, coyotes , foxes , martens
Also bobcats, raccoons, red squirrel
Their color helps them blend into surroundings
Chipmunks are agile and fast so they can escape predators
Their small size lets them hide in rock walls and small spaces
Safe during Winter because they stay in their burrows
Their noises warn other chipmunks of danger
Their reddish tan and brown color helps them blend into their habitat which is sticks, trees, woodchips, dead leaves, grass and dirt.
Their size helps them hide in small places
Their “chips”, cuk-cuk-cuk” sounds warn other chipmunks of danger.
They are very speedy animals which helps them survive in their habitat by
Chipmunks have cheek pouches to help them carry large amounts of food
Chipmunks have excellent hearing, eyesight and sense of smell which helps them avoid predators
Chipmunks have burrows with different rooms for Eating, Sleeping and storing food
Chipmunks cover the open of their burrows with leaves and sticks
They store up to 8 pounds of food