Chipmunks
Chipmunks are small members of the squirrel family. There are about 20 species of western chipmunks and one species of eastern chipmunk in USA and Canada. Chipmunks can be found in woodlands, forest edges, bushes and gardens, parks, around houses or cemeteries. They have reddish-brown fur, with white and black stripes on their back. They also have long flat bushy tails. The largest chipmunk is the eastern chipmunk, which grows up to 11 inches and weighs as much as 4.4 ounces. The smallest chipmunk is the least chipmunk, which grows up to 8.5 inches and weighs up to 1.8 ounces.
The chipmunk is a solitary animal and will socialize during the breeding season. This animal is diurnal and eats insects, snails, nuts, berries, seeds, fruit, and grain. The chipmunk is a ground dwelling mammal. It constructs burrows which can be up to 30 feet in length. Eastern chipmunks spend a lot of time gathering and storing food for the winter. Chipmunks hibernate from late fall to early spring, but every two weeks they will wake to eat. Their predators include: foxes, weasels, badgers, bobcats and snakes
Mating takes place in March. The gestation period is 31 days. 3 to 5 young are born. Young chipmunks are fully grown by three months.
