Eastern Chipmunk
Description
Reddish brown above;
belly white. 1 stripe bordered by 2 black stripes on sides; stripes end
at rump. 2 white stripes on back much thinner then side stripes. Darker
center stripe down back; pale facial stripes above and below eyes. Tail
brown on tip, edged with black. Prominent ears. L 8 1/2-11 3/4";
T 3 1/8-4 3/8"; HF 1 1/4-1 1/2"; Wt 2 1/4 -5 oz.
Similar Species
Similar SpeciesLeast
Chipmunk has 4 white stripes of equal width on back.
Breeding
BreedingMates
in early spring; 1 litter per year of 3-5 young born in May, First- year
females not breeding in early spring may produce a litter late July- August.
Sign
Burrow entrance 2"
wide, without piles of dirt, oftne on a wooded slope or bank. Occasional
sprinklings of nutshells opened on one side. Bits of chaff on logs, stumps,
and rocks. Tracks: In mud, hindprint 1 7/8" long, foreprint
considerably smaller; straddle 1 3/4-3 1/2"; stride closer together
and printing ahead of foreprints.
Habitat
Open deciduous woodlands,
forest edges, brushy areas, bushes and stone walls in cemeteries and around
houses.
Other
Other