Christmas time, and our thoughts turn to—chipmunks. Yes, it is odd that a hibernating rodent would become associated with Christmas, but that is the miracle of radio and a hit song for Alvin and the Chipmunks back in 1958 (when they were known simply as The Chipmunks). We’re not here to talk about those chipmunks, though. We’re here to take a look at 10 things you probably don’t know about chipmunks that neither sing nor star in films. Real chipmunks. Ten things.
Bonus Item: Chipmunk Hibernation A chipmunk makes use of a fallen tree. Photo by National Wildlife Contest entrant Heather Moore. Chipmunks hibernate in winter, but they don’t sleep all the way through the season. They retreat to their burrows but wake every few days, raise their body temperatures to normal, feed on stored food rather than fat reserves, and urinate and defecate. When chipmunks are in the deep sleep phase of hibernation, they may be very difficult to arouse. Their heart rate declines from about 350 beats per minute to perhaps 4. Body temperature may drop from 94 degrees F to whatever the temperature of the burrow is—as cold as 40 degrees F. A new study has found that as winter temperature heats up because of global warming, chipmunks in warmer areas become less likely to hibernate in the coldest months. The research indicates that chipmunks that follow normal hibernation procedures enjoy a survival rate through winter of about 87 percent, while those that remain active because of warm winter weather are almost certain to die by spring. The scientist who made this discovery, Craig Frank of Fordham University, fears that this evidence could suggest dire Like what you read? Please consider making a donation to support our critical conservation work: i Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images
The chipmunk is a member of the rodent family who can live to be 8 years of age, though average lifespan is between two and three years. During this time, an adult female typically produces between 20 and 30 offspring, depending on how abundant food supplies are. There are 25 different species of chipmunk, though all share similar development life cycles. Chipmunks are native to North America. With the exception of the Asia's Tamias sibiricus, all other varieties can be found from Southern Canada to Northern Mexico. Female chipmunks typically breed in early summer and early fall. The female mates repeatedly during an estrus period that last six or seven hours. She has an average litter of between four and six pups. Baby chipmunks are born blind and without fur, measuring a scant 2 or 3 inches. The babies are born and reared in an underground burrow and are tended to by their mother. The pups begin to grow fur during the second week of life and start to develop signature markings by the third and fourth weeks. They open their eyes when they’re a month old, and venture out of their underground burrow for the first time around 40 days old. The mother chipmunk begins to wean her young when they emerge from the burrow, and the pups are typically on their own within a few weeks. The mother may move her weaned pups to a different burrow or leave the nest and create a new home for herself. The weaned young won’t usually remain together, with the litter mates each going off in their own direction. Chipmunks are fully developed within seven to nine months, at which point they range from 7 to 10 inches long and have a bushy tail. An adult chipmunk is characterized by gray, rust, tan or brown fur, a white belly, black back stripes and white stripes near its eyes. The chipmunk reaches sexual maturity by the time it’s a year old, and may have a territory as large as an acre. They’ll defend their turf as adults through loud vocalization, chases and fights, especially during mating season. Chipmunks mate more frequently and have larger litters when food supplies are plentiful. Chipmunks consume a diet comprised primarily of nuts, fruits and seeds. Not complete herbivores, chipmunks will sometimes eat newly hatched birds as well. Weather and living conditions also can impact development, as long winters can result in smaller litter sizes and less frequent breeding.
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What is the lifespan of a chipmunk
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