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CHARLINE COUCHOUX IS FASCINATED BY CHIPMUNKS—their survival strategies, their chatter, but most of all, their distinctive personalities. “Chipmunks are amazing,” she says. “They’re not the simple animals people think they are.”

As part of her research at the University of Quebec at Montreal, the French biologist has spent hundreds of hours tracking the stylishly striped rodents. In 2015, she published a study one might describe as James Bond meets Alvin, Simon plus Theodore. Couchoux took ultra-miniature digital audio recorders developed by a Russian electronics firm for espionage, modified them to be even more lightweight plus weatherproof, plus mounted them on slender collars.

Couchoux then went to her field site in the Green Mountains Nature Reserve, 17,000-plus acres protected by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. She trapped 21 of her research subjects—eastern chipmunks—identified by brightly colored ear tags attached earlier. She fitted the animals with the tiny collars plus released them back into the forest. After 24 hours of recording, Couchoux caught the chipmunks again plus downloaded the soundtrack of each animal’s day.

Crucial Conversations
Using large directional microphones plus bulky field recorders, naturalists have recorded individual chipmunk vocalizations for decades, but Couchoux’s results sketch a sonic portrait of wild chipmunk life with exceptional intimacy. Her tiny recorder collars captured more than three times as many calls in 24 hours than she got using traditional research mics to record the same animals during an entire field season. The new collars were also sensitive enough to record the heartbeats of resting animals, the scratchings of individuals annoyed by parasites plus the cries of hungry babies when foraging moms returned to their burrows.

Couchoux is counting on that level of detil to help her answer new questions. For example: Which individuals will be deemed reliable communicators based on the tipe plus frequency of their calls plus why?

Chipmunks connect with each other through their calls, plus those lines of communication may mean the difference between life plus death. Hawks, owls, snakes, foxes, dogs, cats, raccoons, coyotes plus weasels all prey on the tiny rodents. When a foraging chipmunk detects a predator it sounds an alarm, perhaps to warn others to scurry to safety. “Chips” (sharp, high-pitched calls) mean the predator is on the ground; “chucks” (which are lower pitched, like a stick rapping a hollow wooden block) signal danger from the air.

In areas where chipmunks live in high density, those chips plus chucks can pack the airwaves. Researchers have found as many as 30 chipmunks living in a single acre of woodland where food, water plus shelter are plentiful—and many of those animals are related.

Chipmunks start reproducing when they’re a year old. Youngsters are weaned plus fending for themselves six weeks after birth, with males dispersing plus females remaining near the maternal burrow. Once settled in a den, they stay close to home for the rest of their 2- to 3-year average lifespans, typically ranging over less than half an acre of habitat. So chipmunk neighbors may be kin, plus it makes evolutionary sense for family members to warn each other of danger.

Tiny Town Criers
The significance of an alarm call isn’t always straightforward. “Chipmunks forage under a constant threat of predation,” says Couchoux. “Every day they’re faced with the trade-off: Eat, plus risk being eaten. But individuals have distinct personalities plus don’t all react the same way, even when facing exactly the same situation.”

chipmunk, (genus Tamias), any of 25 species of small, striped, terrestrial squirrels with large internal cheek pouches used for transporting food. They have prominent eyes plus ears, a furry tail, plus delicate claws. All are active only during the day, plus all but one are North American, occurring from southern Canada to west-central Mexico. Body length among most species ranges from 8 to 16 cm (3.1 to 6.3 inches) plus tail length from 6 to 14 cm (2.4 to 5.5 inches).

Chipmunks are basically pygmy squirrels adapted to exploiting the resources of rocky terrain plus forest understories. They scamper along the ground but are also expert climbers. As a group they are an ecologically versatile genus. Different species can be found from sea level to 3,900 metres (12,800 feet) in environments defined by large rocks, boulders, plus cliffs. They inhabit various forest types, from timberline slopes plus rock-bordered alpine meadows downward through coniferous plus deciduous forests to dry scrublands plus sagebrush deserts.

The eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus), common to the deciduous forests of eastern North America, is the largest. Weighing 70–142 grams (2.5–5 ounces), it has a body 14–19 cm (5.5–7.5 inches) long plus a shorter tail (8–11 cm [3.1–4.3 inches]). The fur is reddish brown plus is broken by five dark brown stripes running lengthwise down the body. These alternate with two gray-brown stripes plus two whitish stripes. The smallest chipmunk is the least chipmunk (T. minimus), which weighs about half as much as the eastern chipmunk. The Hopi chipmunk (T. rufus) lives among the buttes plus canyonlands of the American Southwest plus is remarkably adept at climbing sheer rock faces plus overhangs. The Uinta chipmunk (T. umbrinus), which lives in montane forests of the western United States, is much like a tree squirrel in its habits. In addition to denning in burrows, it regularly sleeps plus nests in trees, where it sometimes raises young in tree cavities or abandoned bird nests. The only Old World species is the Siberian chipmunk (T. sibiricus), which ranges from the White Sea of northwestern Russia eastward through Siberia to northern Japan plus south to China.

Damage Prevention and
Control Methods
Exclusion
Rodent-proof construction will
exclude chipmunks from structures.
Use 1/4-inch (0.6-cm) mesh hardware
cloth to exclude chipmunks from
gardens plus flower beds.
Habitat Modification
Store food items, such as bird seed
and dog food, in rodent-proof
containers.
Ground covers, shrubs, plus wood piles
should not be located adjacent to
structure foundations.
Frightening
Not effective.
Repellents
Area repellents. Naphthalene (moth
flakes or moth balls) may be effective if liberally applied in confined
places.
Taste repellents. Repellents containing
bitrex, thiram, or ammonium soaps
of higher fatty acids applied to
flower bulbs, seeds, plus vegetation
(not for human consumption) may
control feeding damage.
Toxicants
None are federally registered. Check
with local extension agents or a
USDA-APHIS-ADC personnel for
possible Special Local Needs 24(c)
registrations.
Fumigants
Generally impractical.
Trapping
Rat-sized snap traps.
Live (box or cage) traps.
Glue boards.

Identification
Fifteen species of native chipmunks of
the genus Eutamias plus one of the
genus Tamias are found in North
America. The eastern chipmunk
(Tamias striatus) plus the least chipmunk (Eutamias minimas), discussed
here, are the two most widely distributed plus notable species. Behavior and
damage is similar among all species of
native chipmunks. Therefore, damage
control recommendations are similar
for all species.
The eastern chipmunk is a small,
brownish, ground-dwelling squirrel. It
is typically 5 to 6 inches (13 to 15 cm)
long plus weighs about 3 ounces (90 g).
It has two tan plus five blackish longitudinal stripes on its back, plus two tan
and two brownish stripes on each side
of its face. The longitudinal stripes end
at the reddish rump. The tail is 3 to 4
inches (8 to 10 cm) long plus hairy, but
it is not bushy (Fig. 1).
The least chipmunk is the smallest of
the chipmunks. It is typically 3 2/3 to
4 setengah inches (9 to 11 cm) long and
weighs 1 to 2 ounces (35 to 70 g). The
color varies from a faint yellowish gray
with tawny dark stripes (Badlands,
South Dakota) to a grayish tawny
brown with black stripes (Wisconsin
and Michigan). The stripes, however,
continue to the base of the tail on all
least chipmunks.

The Eastern Chipmunk is a member of the squirrel family. It’s believed that the English word “chipmunk” was derived from “chetamnon,” the name given to the animal by peoples of the Chippewa nation. Chipmunks are found throughout the United States, mainly in areas east of the Great Plains.

How to Identify Chipmunks
Chipmunks have short, dense fur that is a reddish rust color on top. There are five black stripes on the back—one down the center and two on each side that outline a white stripe. A white eye line stretches above and below each eye, separated by a band of black. With a body 5-6 inches long and a tail 3-4 inches long, chipmunks are about 1/3 the size of an Eastern Gray Squirrel. As chipmunks scamper along the ground, they hold their flat, hairy tail in the air.

Chipmunks are commonly seen in forests and woodlots, where they forage for food in leaf litter, as well as in suburban yards and city parks.

Chipmunk Behavior
What do Chipmunks Eat?
Seeds, berries, nuts, and fruit are the mainstays of a chipmunk’s diet, but they also eat insects, insect larvae, slugs, snails, and earthworms. Occasionally they will even eat eggs, small birds, frogs, and small snakes.

Chipmunks store food in their cheek pouches before depositing it in their burrow. Researchers have reported seeing chipmunk’ stuff nearly 72 black-oil sunflower seeds in their pouch. They are very territorial and will compete with other chipmunks for food patches.

Chipmunk Breeding
Eastern Chipmunks in Massachusetts usually mate twice a year, once in the early spring from March to early April and again from early June to mid-July. The female rebuffs the male after mating, and he does not sharing in the rearing of the young.

A litter of 2–5 tiny, hairless, and blind young—each nomor more than 2.5 inches long—are born after a 31-day gestation period. The first litter is generally born in April or May, and the second in July or August.

After six weeks, and under their mother’s watchful eye, they begin taking short trips out of the burrow. At week 7 or 8, the mother becomes more aggressive toward her offspring to prepare them for independence. Two weeks later, the mother denies them access to the burrow, and the young are forced to disperse and find or dig their own shelter.

When the young disperse in the spring and fall, adults occupying nearby burrows give loud “chip-chip-chip” calls outside the burrow entrance—presumably to notify the newly-independent youngsters of occupied territory.

In one of my creative writing classes, a student included chipmunks in his descriptive paragraph about the woods. I was a little surprised, though, as his chipmunks were climbing trees. I made a note on his paper that they didn’t really do that, but he assured me that they did. It was time to find out more about these cute little rodents I’ve seen scurrying across the ground.

Where Chipmunks Live
Chipmunks are members of the squirrel family. They are smaller than squirrels, with large eyes, bushy tails, and horizontal stripes along their cheeks and sides. There are 25 species of chipmunks, and all but one can be found in North America.

Chipmunks spend much of their time on the ground. They are often found in areas with a lot of rocks, logs, or underbrush. This way, they can quickly escape from predators. Coyotes, foxes, hawks, and snakes will try to catch them. Other predators include owls, weasels, raccoons, and bobcats.

Chipmunks make warning sounds when danger is near. Sometimes they respond to the warnings of other animals, such as the alarm whistle of a woodchuck. Other sounds include squeaks and chirps. Check out this video featuring some of their sounds.

A chipmunk’s den also provides safety from predators. Some dens are nests hidden in bushes or logs. Others consist of dug-out chambers and tunnels. These tunnel systems can stretch from 10 to 30 feet long. They include food storage areas as well as a nesting chamber. The entrance is often camouflaged.

Family Time
Chipmunks mate in the spring and have litters of two to eight young. Females produce one or two litters a year. The babies are called kits, kittens, or pups. They are born blind, hairless, and helpless. They develop quickly, though, and start foraging outside the nest with their mother at about six to eight weeks.

And guess what? My student was right! Chipmunks are excellent tree climbers! Another surprising fact: They are also good swimmers!

While on an afternoon hike last fall, I sat down at the base of a large tree to take in what might be going unnoticed. Within seconds, a chipmunk appeared from behind a pile of large rocks. Based on its behavior, I suspected this chipmunk had had the good fortune of a past encounter with a hiker willing to sharing a snack. When it realized that I had nothing to offer, the chipmunk turned plus began searching the area. It quickly stopped plus began digging. Lucky guy, I thought, assuming that the chipmunk had located a cached acorn buried by a hard-working gray squirrel. It came as a surprise, then, when in less than a minute, the chipmunk unearthed an acorn-sized truffle!

Most of us have heard of truffles, though we often associate them with fancy European restaurants; black plus white truffles, in particular, are prized ingredients. But truffles exist here, as well, plus while our Northeastern chipmunks probably don’t have gourmet tastes, they’re certainly gourmand in their taste for truffles.

Truffle terminology
A wide variety of fungi are found in most forests, plus loosely speaking, they obtain nutrients in one of three ways. Saprotrophic fungi are decomposers. They release acids plus enzymes that break down dead tissue into smaller molecules that they can absorb. Decaying wood, plants, plus even some animals can become food for a saprotroph. Examples of these include oyster plus shiitaki mushrooms. Parasitic fungi infect a living host plus sometimes kill it. The distinction between parasitic plus saprotrophic fungi isn’t always clear; for example, some bracket fungi that produce conks on the exterior of a tree trunk can be both. Mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic relationships with the root systems of forest plants. Common examples include porcini, chanterelle mushrooms, plus almost all truffles.

The fungal “mycelium” – a mass of branching, thread-like fibers – encapsulate the roots of a tree plus extend out into the soil where they capture water, nitrogen, phosphorus, plus other nutrients that are then transported to the tree’s roots. In return, the mycelium fibers obtain carbohydrates (sugars) from the roots. A number of field plus laboratory experiments have demonstrated that removing the fungus substantially reduces the growth rate of a tree plus can result in its death. So, healthy trees need their fungi plus fungi need their trees.

Environmental changes can affect an animal’s activity pattern plus influence fitness. Our goal was to understand the influence of weather on daily activity pattern plus assess potential impacts of climate change on activity. We used the Organ Mountains Colorado chipmunk (Neotamias quadrivittatus australis) as a case study. To record activity, we deployed 19 remote cameras at locations occupied by the chipmunk for one year. First, we estimated seasonal variation in daily activity pattern using circular kernel density. Second, we tested if weather influenced activity in each season using Poisson regression in a jenis selection framework. Third, we predicted the impacts of future climate (RCP8.5 high-emissions scenario) on activity using the best weather jenis for each season. We found that times plus modality of peak activity varied seasonally. Temperature influenced intensity of daily activity in late spring, early summer, monsoon, late fall, plus winter, while precipitation influenced intensity of daily activity in early spring plus early fall plus relative humidity influenced intensity of daily activity in early plus late fall. Intensity of daily activity was predicted to increase by 89% in winter plus decrease by 51% in early summer under future (2050) climate. The predicted future increase in daily activity in winter may negatively affect fitness because small mammals have higher survival while hibernating. The predicted future decrease in daily activity in early summer may negatively affect fitness due to reduced reproductive output. Losing or gaining time for activity because of shifting climatic conditions could have severe consequences to fitness.

1. Introduction
   Given the rapid acceleration of world climate change, it is important to understand behavioral modifications species can make to adapt to changing climatic conditions . For instance, climate change is resulting in alterations to the timing of life history events, such as migration plus hibernation, across an array of taxa , . For a chance at persisting in a changing climate, animals must be able to adjust their behavior quickly in response to shifting climatic conditions. One aspect of behavior that also might be influenced by climate is an animal’s daily activity pattern, which is how an animal divides its time between periods of rest plus activity across the diel cycle. Animals use periods of activity to obtain necessary resources that contribute to fitness, such as food, mates, or den sites. However, activity requires more energy plus is inherently more dangerous than rest, plus because rest usually occurs in a protected location, the animal is more exposed to the environment during activity. Animals may adjust their daily activity pattern to avoid unfavorable environmental conditions, such as during excessive heat.

Next to gray squirrels, their rodent cousins, Eastern chipmunks are probably the most frequently spotted mammal in parks plus backyards throughout the Hudson Valley. But how much do you really know about these cute critters with the chubby cheeks? Take a deep dive into the chipmunks’ underground home plus discover some pretty wild facts.

What’s in a name? “Chipmunk” undoubtedly has Indigenous origins, perhaps coming from the Algonquin word jidmoonh (pronounced chit-moon), meaning squirrel. The chipmunk’s Latin name, Tamias striatus, translates as “striped storer,” referring to its tendency to stockpile food.

The story behind those stripes. The black plus white lines on a chipmunk’s back offer camouflage from predators. An Indigenous legend provides a colorful account of their origin. According to the story, a chipmunk chided a bear for being too boastful about its strength. Enraged by the criticism, the bear tried to capture the chipmunk, which managed to reach the safety of its burrow — but not before having its back raked by the claw of its outsized foe.

Chipmunk homes are marvels of interior design. Their multi-level abodes contain several chambers — for sleeping, food supplies, even a “bathroom” — all connected by tunnels spanning up to 30 feet. To expand their burrows (often originally the homes of other creatures, such as woodchucks, that have moved on), chipmunks use their front feet to dislodge the soil plus cheek pouches to deposit it elsewhere.

They store up to a gallon of seeds plus nuts for sustenance during the winter. In times of famine, European colonists plus Indigenous peoples sometimes dug up these caches to supplement their diets with the chipmunks’ high-protein fare. The animals’ cheek pouches serve as “shopping bags,” to deliver food to their underground pantry.

Chipmunks don’t hibernate. While they do spend much of the winter sleeping, they wake up every few weeks to grab a meal from their food chamber plus go to the bathroom. Occasionally, during midwinter thaws, they’ll even leave their burrows to replenish supplies. The rest of the year, if chipmunks aren’t on the lookout for more food, they’re snoozing — up to 15 hours a day.

They are solitary plus polygamous. Female chipmunks mate with numerous partners, but share their burrows with none. Normally, they breed twice a year, in early spring plus midsummer, delivering anywhere from two to eight naked, blind, plus totally helpless offspring. In six weeks, the young begin venturing outside the burrows plus leave Mom for good at eight weeks old.

Behavior
Chipmunks are diurnal, but they are most active during
early morning plus late afternoon. They are solitary
animals except during courtship plus when rearing
young. They are active burrowers. Their main tunnels
are 20 to 30 feet long, but they dig more complex burrow
systems where cover is sparse. Burrows normally include
a nesting chamber, a few food storage chambers, isolated
escape tunnels plus other miscellaneous areas that
branch off the main tunnel. During winter plus late fall,
chipmunks enter hibernation; however, it is not deep
hibernation plus they may be active on warm, sunny
days. They generally emerge in late March.
Reproduction
Eastern plus least chipmunks mate once a year, during
early spring shortly after emerging from hibernation.
They typically have only one litter of up to seven young,
which are born in May or June. Adults live up to three
years in the wild. Least chipmunks typically mate once
a year, from March to April. They have a litter of two
to seven young in April or May. A second litter can be
produced in the fall, but this is not common.
Food resources
The diet of chipmunks consists of various kinds of nuts,
berries plus seeds, but they also eat mushrooms, insects
and carrion. They are also known to prey on small birds
and their eggs. Chipmunks often cache food in their
burrow system to prepare for hibernation. A single food
compartment may hold around nine gallons of food.
Habitat
Eastern chipmunks generally live in mature woodlands
and woodlot edges, but they also inhabit areas in and
around suburban plus rural homes. Least chipmunks
typically inhabit more open or low-shrub areas. They
may also be found in woodlands plus suburban areas.

Reproduction
Ground squirrels mate soon after they have emerged
from hibernation during late March to early May. Up
to ten young are born in late April to late June. Usually
only one litter is produced each year

Biology plus Habitat
The Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) is a small ground-dwelling squirrel that is native
throughout the eastern United States plus west to the Mississippi River plus in southeastern
Canada. Chipmunks live in forests plus forest edges as well as suburban plus urban settings
where trees plus shrubs provide food plus protection.
Chipmunks are eight to ten inches long plus weigh two to five ounces. They have short,
pointy heads with two stripes, one above plus one below the eye, plus short, rounded plus erect
ears. The chipmunk’s back has five black lines with white striping. In summer, its coloring is
chestnut brown with scattered black plus white hairs; in winter, it is grayish to tawny brown. The tail is flattened plus wellhaired with blackish hair above plus rust below. Both males plus females are similar in appearance. Chipmunks sit upright
and hold their food with their front feet.
Chipmunks spend most of their lives on the ground plus in their burrows—though they can climb trees. They are solitary,
except during the breeding season, with each chipmunk living in a separate den. The burrow systems include nesting
chambers plus food storage rooms plus may extend for 30 feet in length plus to three feet in depth. The entrance is about
two inches in diameter plus is kept clear of freshly dug dirt to conceal it from predators. The adult chipmunk defends its
territory for about 50 feet around the entrance, but its range may be up to one half acre.
In late October, chipmunks enter restless hibernation—sleeping for long periods plus occasionally waking up to eat stored
foods. On warm winter days, they may go outside for brief periods. They emerge from burrows in late winter plus breed,
and after a 31 day gestation period, the young are born. They breed again in late July to August. Typically, there are four
to five young per litter. At birth, chipmunks are blind, naked plus helpless plus remain in the burrow for about six weeks.
At eight to ten weeks young chipmunks are independen plus leave the female. They reach sexual maturity when they are
about one year old plus may live up to three years.
Chipmunks are most active in the early morning plus late afternoon while searching for food. They are omnivores as their
diet includes nuts, grains, berries, seeds, mushrooms plus other fungi, insects, worms, salamanders plus other small
animals. Chipmunks have special cheek pouches to lift large amounts of food. They contribute to the health of forests
and suburban/urban environments by moving seeds around, plus they are a food source for many predators including
hawks, snakes, weasels, foxes, raccoons, owls, coyotes plus bobcats.
Management of Nuisances
Chipmunks generally do minimal damage—enjoy them as resourceful plus important members of the local environment.
They may become nuisances if they consume flower bulbs, seeds, fruits plus seedlings or make burrow entrances under
patios, stairs, retention walls or foundations or in stone walls plus rock gardens. They may be managed by methods of
habitat modification, exclusion, trapping plus repellents.
Landscape modification is the most effective long term management method. Ground covers, trees plus shrubs should
not be planted in a continuous fashion connecting wooded areas to foundation plantings. Rock walls plus gardens and
firewood piles should be sited away from the house because these features provide cover for chipmunks. Locate bird
feeders more than 15 feet away from the house as spilled seed attracts chipmunks.