Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

The eastern chipmunk is the small striped ground squirrel of woods, parks, and backyards across the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. It stuffs seeds and nuts into cheek pouches that can stretch to about three times the size of its head, then stores them in underground burrows for winter. Rather than truly hibernating, it sleeps in its burrow and wakes now and then to eat.

Appearance

Appearance: About 8–12 in (20–30 cm) long including the tail and 2–5 oz (66–150 g). Reddish-brown with a black stripe down the middle of the back and a white stripe between two black stripes on each side, plus white stripes above and below each eye. The rump is rusty.
Voice: A sharp "chip," a lower "chuck," and fast trills. A trill given while being chased is thought to warn nearby relatives.

Look-alikes

Least chipmunkNeotamias minimus

The least chipmunk is smaller (about 1.5–1.9 oz, 42–53 g) and its stripes run all the way onto the tail. The eastern chipmunk is bigger, and its stripes stop at a rusty rump.

Why they get mixed upTheir ranges meet in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

Thirteen-lined ground squirrelIctidomys tridecemlineatus

The ground squirrel has 13 alternating light and dark stripes, with rows of light spots in the dark stripes. The eastern chipmunk has five dark stripes and no spots, plus stripes on its face.

Why they get mixed upBoth are small striped squirrels that run on the ground in lawns and fields.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: deciduous woods
forest edges
suburban yards and parks
Range: From Nova Scotia west to Saskatchewan and south to Oklahoma, eastern Louisiana, and the Florida Panhandle. It is absent from peninsular Florida and the Coastal Plain from Florida to North Carolina, and it was introduced to Newfoundland.
Preferred conditions: Favors open deciduous forests, especially mature beech–maple woods, with plenty of cover such as brush, logs, rock walls, and woodpiles. It avoids swampy ground.
Seasons: In Connecticut
Breeding Feb–Apr, Jun–Aug

Behavior

Diet: Mainly seeds, nuts, berries, and fruit, plus mushrooms, insects, worms, slugs, and bird eggs.
Activity: Active by day, busiest in mid-morning and mid-afternoon. From late fall to early spring it stays mostly in its burrow, waking regularly to feed on its stores, and may come out on mild winter days.
Social life: Solitary and territorial, especially around its burrow. Males and females come together only to mate.

Life cycle

Breeding season: February–April and June–August
Nest: A burrow up to about 30 ft (10 m) long and less than 3 ft (1 m) deep, with a leaf-lined nest chamber and separate food rooms. The entrance is only about 2 in (5 cm) across.
Gestation: About 31 days
Litter size: 2–6 (rarely up to 9)
Time to maturity: Most breed the spring after they are born.
Lifespan: Wild chipmunks typically live about 3 years, up to about 5; up to 8 years in captivity.

Name and classification

About the name: Eleven subspecies are recognized, differing slightly in color and range, such as the Northern Chipmunk (T. s. lysteri) and the Gray Chipmunk (T. s. griseus). Linnaeus first named it Sciurus striatus; it was moved to Tamias in 1811.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction

Culture and stories

Culture and stories: The word "chipmunk" probably comes from the Ojibwe ajidamoo, often translated as "one who descends trees headfirst."
In yards, chipmunks dig up bulbs, eat seedlings, and burrow under patios and steps. Connecticut's wildlife agency suggests ¼-in hardware cloth around beds and placing bird feeders 15–30 ft from buildings.