Eastern Chipmunk
Tamais striatus
"I am on alert for the first signs of spring, to hear the chance note of some arriving bird, or the striped squirrel's chirp." (Walden)
For Henry David Thoreau the chirp of a chipmunk (or a stripped squirrel as he knew them) was a sign spring had arrived. After a long winter borrowed away, the ground squirrel is ready for another season of scavenging, scurrying, and squeaking. The eastern chipmunk can be found across eastern North America along forest edges and open woods near rocks and shrubs to provide quick cover (1).
The eastern chipmunk is not a persnickety eater. Though preferring acorns and nuts, this peaceful little critter can be found munching on seeds, berries, fungi, bird eggs, hatchlings, and even baby mice (2). As with this chipmunk, stripped squirrels have grown accustomed to humans. They'll scavenge through trash, create homes within houses, and even terrorize the family Fido.
However, human influenced climate change may have adverse effects on the chipmunks. Findings by Fordham University's Craig Frank show that as winters warm, chipmunks are less likely to hibernate. Those that remained active throughout the winter months did not survive to announce the arrival of spring. During hibernation chipmunks' body temperatures drop to ground temperature and their heart beats drop from 350 beats per minute to as low as 4 beats per minute. This dormant state is crucial for the critters' survival until spring.
- Eastern Chipmunk, Ground Squirrel, Striped Squirrel -
How about some Black Raspberries, HERE
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