|
E A S T E R N C H I P M U N K (Tamias striatus) GENUS NAME: Tamias SPECIES NAME: striatus DIET: seeds and nuts (acorns, hickory, hazelnut, chestnut), fruits, berries, mushrooms, invertebrates (snails, slugs), small vertebrates (nestling baby birds), bird seed, corn (via provisioning or crop-raiding) |
CHEEK POUCH FULL O' SEEDS
 |
The Eastern Chipmunk is found throughout most of the northeastern United States. Chipmunks vocalize often, especially using 2 types of chattering: a high-pitched, fast "chip-chip-chip" (at about 130 trills per minute) and a "chuck... chuck... chuck" (lower pitch and slower). They collect food in their cheek pouch to store in their borrows. Chipmunks hibernate from late fall to early spring, but wake up about once every 2 weeks to eat. They mate in early spring and females produce one litter of 2-5 offspring, usually in May. The major predators of chipmunks are weasels, hawks, foxes, bobcats, house cats, and man. Size -- Eastern chipmunks weight between 2-5 ounces (66-139 grams) and are 8-12 inches (215-300mm) long (not counting their 3-4 inch /78-113mm tail). A similar species is the Least Chipmunk, which has 4 white stripes of equal length on its back. This Eastern Chipmunk has 2 white stripes down the back, bordered by 2 black stripes on either side of the white stripe. READ MORE ABOUT ANIMALS |
