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Eastern Chipmunk
Tamias striatus inhabits most of eastern North America including
southeastern Canada, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and
Michigan. They live in shallow burrows in the ground. They are
partial to areas near rocky crevices, decayed tree trunks, and fence
corners. They do not like dense forests where no sunlight reaches
the ground. Burrows are made by digging and carrying away the dirt
in their pouched mouths. Unlike prairie dogs and other sciurids,
eastern chipmunks do not leave the dirt in mounds near the entrances
of their burrows. This makes it harder for predators to find
chipmunks in their homes. These burrows can be up to 30 ft. in
length with several different exits and tunnels. Eastern chipmunks
conceal the exits with leaves and rocks. They may inhabit these
burrows for several years.
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Eastern Chipmunk
Perhaps the most distinctive characteristic of all chipmunks is
their pouched cheeks. The pouches are located in the sides of their
mouths and are used to store food. When the pouches are full they
can be as large as an entire chipmunk's head.
Eastern chipmunks are larger than most chipmunks. They are reddish
brown in color with 5 black stripes on their backs. These stripes
are separated by brown, white, or grey fur stripes. They also have
white and dark markings around their eyes. The stomach is usually a
yellowish brown or white color. Their tails are reddish brown and
furry, but not bushy like common squirrels. Like many rodents,
Tamias striatus has 4 toes on the front feet and 5 toes on the rear
feet.
Reproduction
Tamias striatus has 2 breeding seasons. This is unusual among
sciurids. One season begins in February and lasts until April, the
second begins in June and ends in August. They do not form
monogamous pairs. Females are in estrus for 3-10 days. The gestation
period is 31 days and the usual litter size is 4 to 5, although
litters as large as 9 have been found. Young eastern chipmunks do
not appear above ground for 6 weeks after they are born. Both male
and female eastern chipmunks reach sexual maturity at about 1 year
old.
Young are cared for in the nest by their mother until they are
weaned at about 6 weeks old. Soon after that they disperse from
their mother's range.
About half of all chipmunks in any given year are young that were
born in that season. Chipmunks in the wild live, on average, just
over one year.
Behavior
Eastern chipmunks are usually solitary animals that defend small
territories around their burrows. There is considerable competition
during the mating season for estrus females, but even if a male
out competes his comrades the female may reject him by biting him and
chasing him out of her burrow.
Although Tamias striatus are solitary animals, they have been seen
gathering to "sing," or make noise in chorus. They also make a
variety of other noises. The name chipmunk comes from the noise
"chip, chip, chip" commonly made by these furry animals.
Many kinds of sciurids hibernate during the cold winter months.
eastern chipmunks, however, do not hibernate continuously through
the winter, nor do they "fatten up" before retreating to their
burrows. They keep large stores of food in their burrows and build
nests on top of this treasure. During the winter months they wake up
periodically and snack on their stored nuts and seeds.
Food Habits
Tamias striatus eats a wide variety of foods including nuts, acorns,
seeds, mushrooms, fruits, berries, and corn. They also eat insects,
bird eggs, and sometimes small vertebrates such as young mice. In
captivity they should be offered a complete diet of rodent lab blocks, and rat or mouse
mix, with bits of fruit or veggies regularly. Cheerios or wheat
bread are great treats, in small quantities. Do NOT feed chocolate,
fried foods, salted foods, candy or junk food! They may enjoy
crickets and mealworms if they are captive bred, never feed wild
insects as they may carry parasites. Vitamins, like Nutri-Cal are a good addition to their diet, and added calcium
during nursing and growth due to demands on their systems at those
times, but take care not to overdo it. Water bottles should be used
to proved constant, clean water. Ceramic or stoneware food dishes
work well for keeping seeds or fresh foods off the floor, and a wire
mesh hopper that allows them to eat the lab blocks through without
extra waste.
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