Eastern Chipmunk

Description:

The Eastern Chipmunk is a small ground squirrel that can climb trees but constructs underground nests with extensive tunnel systems, often with several entrances. To hide the construction of its burrow, the eastern chipmunk carries dirt to a different location in its cheek pouches. It also lines the burrow with leaves, rocks, sticks, and other material, making it even harder to see. Predators of the Eastern chipmunk include hawks, foxes, raccoons, weasels, snakes, bobcats, lynx, and domestic cats. On average, eastern chipmunks live three or more years in the wild, but in captivity they may live as long as eight years. Its diet consists of nuts, acorns, seeds, mushrooms, fruits, berries and corn. It also eats insects, bird eggs, snails and small mammals like young mice. They store large amounts of food (nuts and seeds) in their burrows. This is called a cache. Food caches are supposed to get the chipmunks through the winter. Chipmunks will spend much of their time running back and forth, with their cheeks stuffed with food, from trees to their burrows building their caches.

Habitat:

Southeastern Canada - eastern U.S. south to Mississippi. Deciduous woodlands with areas of cover.