EASTERN CHIPMUNK

The eastern chipmunk spends much of the winter its burrow, sleeping for up to 8 days at a time. It is not a true hibernator, as it will awaken to dig into its hidden supply of nuts and seeds, stored during the summer and fall. 

The eastern chipmunk is active by day. It is extremely inquisitive and can be easily tamed.

HABITS

The eastern chipmunk lives throughout the eastern parts of Canada and the United States. It is most common in deciduous woodland and scrub, but it also inhabits coniferous forests and areas that have broken and stony ground. The chipmunk is not shy and frequently makes its home near human dwellings.

 For most of the year the chipmunk lives alone, establishing and defending a territory surrounding its nest burrow. The size of a chipmunk's territory depends on the availability of food.

 Even though it is a good climber, the chipmunk spends little time above ground. It forages on the forest floor and makes its nest underground, beneath rocks, fallen logs, or even sheds.

The chipmunk continues digging its nest burrow all its life. As a result, burrow tunnels can extend for 30 feet or more and may contain several chambers and exits. The chipmunk also digs shorter, simpler burrows for emergency exits and food storage.

BREEDING

Chipmunks usually have two breeding seasons: from February to April and from June to August. During these periods the female chipmunk will be ready to mate for 3-10 days and gives a series of calls known as chips. Male chipmunks gather in a female's territory and compete for the chance to mate with her. Chipmunks do not establish pair bonds, and after mating the male leaves the female to bear and rear the young on her own.

After a 31-day pregnancy, the female bears a litter of four or five offspring in her nest burrow. She suckles the young for about a month before she takes them on foraging trips. At 6-8 weeks of age the offspring are ready to leave the nest and find their own territories. Eastern chipmunks are fully grown after about 3 months; a chipmunk is not usually sexually mature until the following year.

The chipmunk is an omnivore. It prefers seeds, nuts, and acorns, as well as fruits or berries; but it also eats slugs, insects, spiders, nestling birds, eggs, and occasionally mice or small snakes. Chipmunks collect most of their food from the forest floor but will harvest nuts and berries directly from tree limbs if necessary. Most of the food they collect is stored in their burrows for the winter, though some may end up in other safe places throughout their territories. In winter chipmunks use their keen sense of smell to find these supplies. Some hoards remain undiscovered, however, allowing some of the buried seeds to germinate in the spring. In this way chipmunks aid the propagation of those trees and bushes that bear their food.

DISTRIBUTION & CONSERVATION

The chipmunk is abundant and coexists peacefully with man, seldom doing so much damage to crops that its numbers must be controlled. It is occasionally hunted for its fur, and some wild chipmunks may be captured for the pet trade.

 KEY FACTS

Head and body, 5-7 in; tail, 3-4 in.

BREEDING

  Sexual maturity: 4-6 months.

   Mating season: February-April and June-August.

  Gestation: 31 days.

   No. of young: 1-9; usually 4 or 5.

LIFESTYLE

 Habit: Active by day, nests in burrows.

 Diet: Nuts, seeds, berries, invertebrates, and occasionally nestling birds, mice, and snakes.

 Lifespan: 2-3 years in the wild; 5-8 years in captivity.

RELATED SPECIES

There are 22 chipmunk species, including the Siberian chipmunk, Eutamias sibiricus.

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