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Eastern Chipmunk - Tamias striatus

chipmunk
Characteristics
Range
Habitat
Diet
Life Cycle
Behavior

 Classification

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

Eastern Chipmunk
ICUN Redlist - World Status: Least ConcernLeast Concern  
  Characteristics
Eastern ChipmunkThe 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.

  Range
mapThe eastern chipmunk is found in southeastern Canada and most of the the northeastern United States south to Mississippi and Virginia and west to North Dakota and Oklahoma. The eastern chipmunk is found throughout New Hampshire.
  Habitat
Eastern ChipmunkThe eastern chipmunk lives in open deciduous forests and at the edges of woodlands. It can also be found in bushy areas and in rocky areas like walls near houses and other buildings.
  Diet
Eastern ChipmunkMost of the eastern chipmunk's diet is made up of  nuts, acorns, seeds, mushrooms, fruits, berries and corn. It also eats insects, bird eggs, snails and small mammals like young mice. 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.

  Life Cycle
Eastern ChipmunkEastern chipmunks mate in early spring. The female usually has one litter a year with between three and five young. In some areas, a female may have a second litter. The young will come above ground when they are about six weeks old.

  Behavior
Eastern ChipmunkThe eastern chipmunk spends a large part of its waking hours gathering and storing food for the winter. Eastern chipmunks are also very vocal and can be heard chattering as they gather food. In fact, they get their name chipmunk from the "chip-chip" sound that they make!

 


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