Chipmunk Information and Biology

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Chipmunks are actually small squirrels, which are indigenous to North America. Aside from the Siberian Chipmunk, most chipmunk species are found in North America. They can be classified as three genera or as single genus. However, lately they have only been classified as single genus. Although there are 25 different types of chipmunk species you will still almost always see them doing the same things; gathering food and scurrying around in a playful manner. Chipmunks can be a variety of colors (light and dark) and they can be from 7 to 11 inches in length. While you will see more of them in North America, they can generally be spotted anywhere because of their ability to survive in different environments.


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All about Chipmunks
Originally, their name was pronounced as chitmunk, which was from the native word jidmoonh, which means red squirrel. Other pronunciations and spellings for the animal include chipmonk, chipmink, chipmuck and chip squirrels among others. They have also been referred to as ground squirrels, striped squirrels, timber tigers and chippers munks among others. Most of these names have been used to refer to their pattern of behavior and the way they look among other things.

Appearance And Biology
The striping pattern of a chipmunk is very distinctive and will run down the length of the body. The majority of the fur will usually range between the brown and red that is common for many squirrels and other rodents, but chipmunks have two sets of stripes running from the tip of their nose to the end of their tail. These stripes will feature one white stripe along with black borders running down the body. Chipmunks generally have stouter bodies than other squirrels.

Their small claws and powerful hind legs make them ideal climbers, although their natural inclination to hoard food makes them more similar to the European red squirrel rather than their North American cousins. Similarly to other species that hoard food, chipmunks will use spacious cheek pouches to carry food back to a specific hoard of food.

Behavior And Life Cycle
Chipmunks mate both in early spring and early summer. They produce litters of four or five young ones twice every year. This is the case for Eastern chipmunks. On the other hand, western chipmunks only breed once every year. After six months of being born, the young chipmunks emerge from the burrow and within the next two weeks, they strike out on their own.

Chipmunks will rarely grow beyond three years old in the wild, although there are occasions where they may grow older, and up to four times that age in captivity. Breeding will take place between February and April for most chipmunks, and after a short gestation of around a month the litter will have between two and eight young chipmunks. The growth of the chipmunk is very quick, and within six weeks the majority of those babies that were born blind and helpless will be leaving the burrow.

One important aspect of their behavior has actually contributed to the name of the animal, as its call is similar to a ‘chip’ sound. There are a number of different factors that will affect how the chipmunk will store its food reserves, with some making one big hoard that they use all the time, with others creating many small stores of food which are only used occasionally. Those who do make one big store are generally less mobile during the winter, and will survive on the food they have collected until spring, while those with a number of small stores of food will have to move more to go from one to another.

Ecology
As far as the forest ecosystem is concerned, these small animals play a role that is extremely vital. They harvest and hoard trees, which is extremely essential for the establishment of seedlings. Chipmunks also consume various types of fungi, including fungi that are involved in the symbiotic mycorrhizal association with trees, thus, essential vectors for the dispersal of subterranean spores.

The sleeping quarters of chipmunks are often referred to as burrows, and they are kept particularly neat and clean. Their waste is kept in refuse tunnels. The burrows are often 3.5 meters in length and they usually have many entrances that are well hidden.

Chipmunks are prey for many mammals and birds. Mountain blue birds have been seen eating chipmunks that they see near their nests. However, they are also predatory in nature, especially when it comes to bird’s nestling and eggs. Also, essential to note is that chipmunks typically only live for three years, but they can live up to nine years if they are kept captive.

When chipmunks are in captivity, they can sleep for up to fifteen hours a day. According to research, mammals that sleep while in hiding, like rats and bats, sleep more that animals that need to stay alert while in captivity.

Overall, it should be noted that chipmunks are in essence squirrels. They are divided into so many species, but most of them are indigenous to North America, thus, many people think that this is the only region in which they are located.

Habitat And Diet
Chipmunks will usually live in forested areas and woodland, but where they do venture in to urban areas can adapt well to their surroundings. In the wild their burrows will be quite large and will have areas that are designed for waste as well as a sleeping chamber. They are also an important part of their habitat, as they carry and move seeds across their territory.

Although the majority of the chipmunk diet is made up of nuts, grains and fruit, they will also eat other animals if they can catch them, with insects and other small animals being eaten. Chipmunks will also eat small invertebrates such as earthworms, snails and slugs. They also eat fungi and other plants that are found in the woodland.

Chipmunks are known for having an omnivorous diet. Their diet consists of bird eggs, berries, fruits, nuts, grains, worms, fungi and insects. On occasion, they are also known to feed on mammals like mice. During autumn, they stock these foods in their burrows, in preparation for winter. They are able to carry the food to their burrows by using their cheek pouches. Food carried in their pouches can also be for consumption.

Conclusion
Although the first thing that many people will think about when they consider chipmunks will be singing rodents, in real life they are actually quite different from what cartoons may suggest. These striped animals are a type of squirrel that is only found in North America, but the distinctive striped pattern of the fur makes them look significantly different to the Eastern Gray Squirrel or other variants.

Chipmunks are a very important part of the woodland ecological system, and they are vital in ensuring that wildlife in such an area will continue to thrive. The chipmunk is also quite a popular animal that will often see people going to try and spot them. They can however be problematic when living in proximity with human beings, in a similar way to many other species.

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