Field Guide/Mammals/Eastern Chimpmunk

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Tamias striatus (Eastern Chipmunk)

Family: Sciuridae (Squirrel) Size: Total Length: 8.5-11.2 inches (215-285mm) Tail Length: 2.8-4 inches (72-101mm) Weight: 2.8-5.3 oz. (80-150g) Description: 5 black stripes over red-brown, white, and grey stripes on back. Cream belly, white “eyeliner” stripes, 4 toes on front paws & 5 toes on back paws, red-brown tail brown on tip Similar Species: The Least Chipmunk (Tamias minimus) has similar striping patterns and toes, but is quite a bit smaller than the Eastern Chipmunk. Range: The Eastern Chipmunk ranges from Eastern and Central United States (as far south as Louisiana and Florida) and Southeastern Canada, including Nova Scotia. Habitat: Eastern Chipmunks live in burrows in deciduous forest or woodland edge, but they are also able to survive in urban environments . The home territory of an Eastern Chipmunk is usually less than 100 yards. Diet: The Eastern Chipmunk eats nuts, acorns, seeds, mushrooms, corn, and sometimes berries, slugs, and snails. They collect up to 8 pounds of food for eating in winter. Activity: Chipmunks run from burrow to collect food. They stuff and carry food in cheek pouches, as well as soil when digging burrows. They are diurnal and hibernate. Reproduction: Chipmunks call for mating season is a short “chip, chip, chip.” Mating is in March and again the latter half of June–July. Females may bite dominant male as form of rejection. Gestation is 31-32 days, and litters average 4-5. The babies are furless at birth and open eyes after the first month. Lifespan: Eastern Chipmunks live 1-3 years, and up to 8 years in captivity. Notes: They wake from hibernation and torpor to eat some and then return to sleep. (Torpor is an advanced stage of hibernation where about 75% of the chipmunk’s functions cease. This decreases energy usage, but can cause temporary brain damage.)

Eastern Chipmunk