Chipmunks By: Aaron Talcovitz

Classification Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Rodentia Family: Sciuridae Genus: Tamias

The eastern chipmunk has reddish-brown fur on its back and sides and white fur on its stomach. It has two white stripes bordered by black on its sides and one black stripe on the center of its back. The eastern chipmunk has light stripes above and below its eyes and it has pouched cheeks that it uses to store and carry food. When it runs it sticks its tail straight up. It makes a sharp chattering or chucking noise when upset.

Winter Habits In winter, it stays in its den. The eastern chipmunk doesn't truly hibernate, but it does spend a lot of time sleeping. It may wake up every few weeks to eat the food it has stored.

Mating habits Eastern chipmunks will mate twice a year, in the spring and fall. Usually 2 to 5 babies are born. Babies don't open their eyes until they are 30 days old. When they are 2 months old, their mother weans them and they are on their own. A chipmunk can live to be 3 years old.

Diet Chipmunks much like squirrels like to eat nuts, grains, mushrooms, seeds, and berries. The also eat bugs and salamanders. They also will raid bird nests, and eat the eggs and baby birds, if they are small enough. They have a special cheek pouch in which they carry their food. Chipmunks are valuable forest creatures because they move seeds around and store them underground. Some of these seeds sprout and become new trees.

Range “take a deep breath” The eastern chipmunk can be found in southeastern Canada and most of the northeastern United States south to Mississippi and Virginia and west to North Dakota and Oklahoma. They also live in Mahopac you can find them climbing trees and running across the road.

Natural Habitat The eastern chipmunk natural habitat is in open deciduous forests and at the edges of woodlands. They also choose to reside in bushy areas and in rocky areas like walls near houses and other buildings. You can find the by just about any house in Mahopac.

Sources List k.htmhttp:// k.htm chipmunk.htm