Chipmunks

The chipmunks are small, ground-dwelling members of the squirrel (Sciuridae) family known for their burrowing habits and love of nuts. Despite their size, chipmunks can cause significant damage to homes, yards, and farms. The average size of a chipmunk is: 2-6" long with a 3" tail; less than 1 lb. in weight. Their lifespan in the wild: 2-3 years Identifying Features: Shades of brown/ yellow/grey fur with white and black stripes down the back.

There are 23 existing species of chipmunks all chipmunk species except for one - the Siberian chipmunk - are native to North America. As indicated by its name, the eastern chipmunk inhabits most of the eastern half of the United States and Canada. Western chipmunks inhabit the western states as well as most of Canada.

The Siberian chipmunk is the only species that is found outside of North America - its range extends throughout northern Asia, from central Russia to Japan.

Chipmunks feel most at home in areas with plenty of ground cover, including logs, trees, stumps, shrubs and rocks. While the ideal habitat for a chipmunk is a deciduous forest, woodland or brush land, they're also comfortable in other areas that provide cover like urban parks, fence lines, hedges and houses.

Chipmunks dig extensive burrow systems directly underneath or next to natural or manmade cover. They dig two types of burrows: shallow burrows in which they seek refuge while foraging during the day, and deeper, more complex burrows where they nest, store food and spend most of the winter months.

Chipmunks rarely venture further than 1/3 mile from their burrows at any time.

Chipmunks are omnivores, dining on various types of foods that are found mostly on the ground Their diet consists mainly of corn nuts seed and grain berries insects and mushrooms, plant roots and blubs however their diets are more diverse during the warmer months, during which time they hoard nuts and seeds in their burrows to eat in the winter,. Chipmunks are active in the daytime during spring, summer and fall. Chipmunks remain in their deep burrow systems during the winter, where they enter patterns of torpor (deep sleep and lower body temperature) interrupted by periods of feeding.

Breeding occurs twice per year - once in the spring and once in the summer - when chipmunks give birth to 4-5 babies at a time. Chipmunks dig their own pairs of burrows, excavating as deep as 3 feet underground. Burrows are typically dug directly underneath or next to cover, because a chipmunk always requires protection from predators. Oftentimes chipmunk burrows cause damage when dug next to a home foundation. The main entrance of a chipmunk burrow can extend up to 20 feet in length.

When they prepare for the winter hibernation period, chipmunks begin to stockpile nuts and seeds in their burrows during late summer and early fall. Chipmunks are protective of their burrows and use a range of loud chirps as well as body language to express occupied territory, dominance, or warn their young of danger. Females also have a mating call for which they use their high-pitched, bird-like vocalizations. Did you know that one tiny chipmunk can gather up to 165 acorns in one day and they have pouches inside of their cheeks in which they store food when foraging. A group of chipmunks is called a scurry.