mammal · GBIF taxon 2437438
Tamias striatus
tamias striatusAlso known as Chipping Squirrel, Hackee, Striped Squirrel
Eastern chipmunks spend their days darting through forest undergrowth, collecting nuts and seeds in their highly stretchable cheek pouches to store in complex underground burrows. These industrious rodents excavate multi-chambered tunnel systems that can reach over ten feet in length, complete with dedicated sleeping quarters, food larders, and refuse sites. During winter, they enter a state of torpor, waking every few days to feed on their cached supplies rather than hibernating continuously.
DiurnalBurrowingForest-dwelling
- diet
- Omnivorous (nuts, seeds, fruits, insects, fungi, and small eggs)
- family
- Sciuridae
- threats
- Habitat fragmentation, domestic cats, and vehicle collisions
- life Span
- 2 to 5 years in the wild
LC
Can bite if handled and hosts ticks; observe from a distance and do not touch.
- Listen closely: Listen for their sharp, bird-like chipping calls used to warn others of nearby predators.
- Watch the ground: Look around stone walls, fallen logs, and brush piles where they love to forage.
- Keep food secure: Secure bird feeders to prevent them from monopolizing the seed supply.