They will climb trees to collect acorns and hazel nuts, however, they are not as agile as their cousins, the squirrel.Ĭhipmunks fulfil several important functions in forest ecosystems. Chipmunks generally gather food on the ground in areas with underbrush, rocks and logs, where they can hide from predators like hawks, foxes, coyotes, weasels, and snakes. Larder hoarders usually remain in their nests until spring. These two behaviours are referred to as ‘larder hoarding’ and ‘scatter hoarding’.
Some species of chipmunk make many caches of food. Lots of food is gathered and placed in their burrows at the beginning of autumn to store for the winter. Food is stuffed into their large cheek pouches and carried back to store in their dens. Some species of chipmunk make their homes in logs, bushes are abandoned nests.Ĭhipmunks have a varied omnivorous diet mainly consisting of nuts, fruits, seeds, berries, grains, birds eggs, small frogs, fungi, insects and worms. Food is normally stored in the lowest tunnels, to keep it cool and fresh. sleeping areas are enlarged and filled with shredded leaves to make a comfortable bed. Shells and faeces are stored in refuse tunnels. These burrows have several entrances, tunnels and chambers for sleeping which are kept very clean. Chipmunks construct complex burrows which can measure 3 – 4 metres in length. Chipmunk HabitatĬhipmunks are generally seen scampering through the undergrowth of a variety of environments from scrublands, alpine forests to shrubby deserts. The dirt is pushed to the surface, and then carried away in the animals cheeks. The chipmunk digs with its front paws, which have four sharp claws on each. Although a chipmunks mouth is small, their cheek pouches can expand up to 3 times the size of their head.
Chipmunks have large, glossy eyes and characteristic bushy tails measuring 2 – 5 inches which have made them a favourite character with animators.Ĭhipmunks have small but prominent ears which face forwards, small eyes set on the sides of their heads and a pointed muzzle. They have white fur on their underparts and their tail is brown, with varied shades of black near the tip. Their size ranges from 7 – 8 inches in length and 32 – 50 grams in weight in the smallest chipmunks to 11 inches in length and 125 grams in weight in larger chipmunks.Ĭhipmunks coats range from reddish brown to grey in color with contrasting dark or light stripes on the side of their faces and across their backs and tails. Chipmunk DescriptionĬhipmunks vary in size and color depending on species. Chipmunks are kept as popular and entertaining pets. There are three genera in this family: Tamias (eastern North America), Neotamias (western North America) and Eutamias (Eurasia).Ĭhipmunks are lively little creatures that are found mostly in North and West America with one species (Asia’s Tamias sibiricus) native to Eurasia. Chipmunks are small rodents of the squirrel family with a total of 25 different species (see bottom of page), all part of the scientific family, in the family Sciuridae.
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