Wildlife Watching Wednesday: Inquisitive Chipmunks Are Always Hungry

By: Tom Berg

The Eastern Chipmunk is a common sight in backyards, parks and woodlands throughout the most of eastern United States and southern Canada. They do not live in the coastal areas of southeastern states, as they both prefer forested and colder habitats, but wherever they are found these curious little mammals are fun to watch. They love to search the ground for fallen seeds beneath backyard bird feeders, and they often stuff the pouches in their cheeks full of seeds before scampering off into the bushes.

Chipmunks are members of the squirrel family, but they are small: usually 8-10 inches in length including their tail. The average weight of an adult chipmunk is only 3-5 ounces. Their short fur is mostly brown, with five dark stripes and two much lighter (almost white) stripes running along their back. There are also lighter-colored stripes around their eyes.

These small ground-dwelling mammals can climb trees with ease, but they prefer to live in underground burrows that they excavate themselves. When digging these tunnels, chipmunks usually include multiple entrances and exits, which help them escape danger when needed. The subterranean dens also contain nesting areas and chambers for food storage which will serve them well during the winter.

Chipmunks are omnivores, so they will eat a wide variety of foods, including seeds, berries, nuts, fruit, plant bulbs and other plant material. They always seem to be hungry, too. If agricultural fields are nearby, they are happy to eat waste grain like corn, wheat and soybeans. Insects like crickets and grasshoppers are a favorite snack. They have even been known to eat snails, worms and small bird eggs.

Adult chipmunks can breed twice per year, usually producing litters of three to five young. When juvenile chipmunk littermates playfully prance around the yard together, they often look quite comical. They are also very inquisitive, and will sometimes be brave enough to approach humans and be fed by hand. In any case, they are always interested in discovering new things, especially if it involves food!

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