Chipmunk: Description, Species, Diet, Interesting Facts

The chipmunk is a small rodent from the squirrel family. Unlike its closest relative, the squirrel, chipmunks are much smaller and are not as agile and fast. There are 25 described species of chipmunks. Of these, 24 live in North America, while only one species, the Asian or Siberian chipmunk, is found in Eurasia.

Description

Depending on the species, chipmunks’ body length ranges from 8 to 20 cm, with tails from 5 to 13 cm. Adult chipmunks can weigh between 40 to 120 grams. A distinctive feature of all chipmunks is the presence of five dark longitudinal stripes on their backs. It is believed that this coloring helps them blend into the grass, thus escaping predators. Chipmunks’ fur is mostly brown in various shades.

Species of Chipmunks

Chipmunks are widespread in North America, where they can be found across the continent, represented by many species. In Eurasia, chipmunks inhabit mainly Siberia, northern Europe, and parts of China.

  • Asian (Siberian) Chipmunk: Also known as the Siberian ground squirrel. The body length is about 20 cm, and the tail is 10 cm long. The head is elongated with sparse whiskers. The hind limbs are longer than the forelimbs, and there are hairs on the soles. Cheek pouches are well-developed. The fur is short and stiff, grayish-brown on the back and whitish-yellow on the belly. Five black stripes on the back alternate with light stripes. This species is widespread in the taiga zone of Eurasia.
  • Townsend’s Chipmunk: Named after the American naturalist John Townsend. Their body length ranges from 13 to 18 cm, with tails from 10 to 13 cm. The fur on the upper body is orange-brown, and the dark stripes on the back are separated by orange lines. This species inhabits dense forests in Canada and the U.S.
  • Eastern Chipmunk: The body is 15-19 cm long, with a tail of 8-11 cm. The fur on the back has a reddish-brown hue with five short white stripes bordered by dark fur. It is found in deciduous forests in the eastern U.S. and southeastern Canada.
  • Pine Chipmunk: Its body length is 10-14 cm, with a tail of 6-11 cm. The upper body ranges from reddish to pinkish-brown, and the dark stripes on the back are divided by light gray fur. It lives in the U.S. and Canada, often in forests and occasionally in meadows.
  • Red-Tailed Chipmunk: The body length is 10-13 cm, with tails of 8-11 cm. Its upper body is orange, with five dark stripes on the back. This species lives in coniferous forests in Canada and the U.S.
  • Least Chipmunk: Characterized by a body length of 10-13 cm and a tail of up to 10 cm. The sacrum is light gray, and the sides are reddish-brown. The face has three dark stripes divided by light fur. It is found in both coniferous and deciduous forests in the U.S. and Canada.

Diet

Chipmunks primarily eat plant-based foods, occasionally adding insects and mollusks to their diet. They consume seeds, nuts, acorns, young shoots of trees and shrubs, berries, mushrooms, grasses, and lichens. They are also known to eat grains from crops such as wheat, buckwheat, corn, oats, flax, and sunflowers.

Interesting Facts

  • Chipmunks are increasingly becoming popular pets due to their charming appearance and playful nature.
  • Chipmunks living near fields can cause significant damage to agriculture by stealing large amounts of crops.
  • In the wild, chipmunks live an average of 3-4 years, while in captivity, with proper care, they can live up to ten years.
  • A legend says that the five stripes on the chipmunk’s back are the claw marks left by an angry bear that the chipmunk outwitted.
  • Chipmunks have appeared in popular culture, such as Disney’s Chip ‘n Dale and the “Alvin and the Chipmunks” series.

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