As indicated by its name, the eastern chipmunk inhabits most of the eastern half of the United States and Canada. Eastern Chipmunks have a height of 1.6”-2.4” (4-6 cm), body length between 3”-4.5” (7.6-11.4 cm), and an overall weight in the range of .14-.33 lb (65-150 g). Accessed Sniffing hindquarters and touching noses provides chemical signals during these interactions. The least chipmunk is found in coniferous forests of northern Minnesota. Linzey, A. Their gestation period lasts 35 days. Vander Wall, S., S. Jenkins. having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. 5 6 7. Range. Contributor Galleries They are also easily tamed and can make unique pets. gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate), Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, http://www.turtletrack.org/Issues01/Co01132001/CO_01132001_Chipmunkstripes.htm, http://www.stolaf.edu/depts/environmental-studies/courses/es-399%20home/es-399-05/Projects/Jared's%20Senior%20Seminar%20Research%20Page/, © 2020 Regents of the University of Michigan. Range and Habitat: Eastern chipmunks inhabit the extreme eastern part of Kansas, but are now only common in residential areas. The eastern chipmunk is an omnivore that an animal that mainly eats all kinds of things, including plants and animals. IUCN 2012" (On-line). Light and dark stripes occur on their face around their eyes. They are not native to Newfoundland, but have been introduced. (Vander Wall and Jenkins, 2011), Eastern chipmunks are not significantly important to the economy. The eastern chipmunk hibernates in the winter, while western chipmunks do not, relying on the stores in their burrows. Breeding males have the largest home range. In the early summer and early fall, their range is the largest. From the same family of animals as tree squirrels , chipmunks are identified differently because of the stripes above and below their eyes. As it forages, it crams food into pouches in its cheeks. This intense foraging may also explain the home ranges of the eastern chipmunk. It lives in a great variety of human generated ecosystems including fence rows, city parks, gardens, cemeteries, and even college campuses. Throughout its range, the Eastern Chipmunk is at home in a variety of habitats. home range dynamics of the eastern chipmunk have concentrated primarily on the total area util-ized by individuals as revealed by mark-recapture techniques employing live traps (Burt, 1940; Blair, 1942; Manville, 1949; Yerger, 1953; Tryon and Snyder, 1974; Forsyth and Smith, 1973). offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) The tail is well haired but not bushy, is somewhat flattened, and is shorter than the body. Trills are shorter in duration and are given during pursuit by a predator. Eastern Chipmunk ranges are also known to expand in autumn, but not as early as August (Forsyth and Smith 1973). Eastern Chipmunk Photos, geographic range, physical characteristics, food habits, reproduction, behavior, habitat and conservation information. This could be because males are uncertain of kinship and trilling would put an individual at higher risk. Chipmunks have an omnivorous diet primarily consisting of seeds, nuts and other fruits, and buds. (Baack and Switzer, 2000; Da Silva, et al., 2002; Saunders, 1988), Dietary staples include fruit, seeds and nuts. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Eastern chipmunks eat insects and may be helpful in controlling the population of some pest species. It has been also introduced in Europe. Chipmunks live in elaborate underground burrow systems with interconnecting tunnels, a nest area, and an area for food storage. We hypothesized that chipmunks would extend and shift their home range in response to an additional abundant food source. Eastern Chipmunk – This common little rodent ranges throughout much of the eastern United States and into Canada. It is mainly active during the day. The background color of the upperparts is a grizzled reddish brown, grading into rusty on the rump and flanks. It is found in deciduous and mixed forests, suburban gardens, city parks, river valleys, brushy areas, and coniferous forests. The eastern chipmunk is an omnivore that eats nuts, seeds, fruits, flowers, mushrooms, snails, caterpillars and eggs. National Science Foundation Order: Rodentia Most species weigh about 3 or 4 ounces, though size varies based on location. The belly and sides are buff to white, and the tail is blackish above and rusty below. Range The eastern chipmunk is found throughout the eastern United States, west to the Mississippi River and in southeastern Canada. The short, bushy tail is held straight up when the animal runs. The eastern chipmunk is found abundantly throughout the middle and eastern sections of the United States. Trilling occurs in all active seasons, not just during juvenile emergence, which discounts the hypothesis that trilling is a mechanism of parental care. The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. The chipmunk is most active in early morning and late afternoon, gathering and storing seeds, nuts, acorns and berries. Young become independent two months after birth. Mammalian Species, 168: 1-8. However, least chipmunks' stripes extend to the base of their tail, whereas, eastern chipmunks' stripes stop before their rump patch. Search in feature Eastern Chipmunks eat nuts, acorns, seeds, fungi, fruit. Chipmunks distribute soil to the surrounding areas or use it to close an old entrance to the burrow. The Trill of the Chase: Eastern Chipmunks Call to Warn Kin. The eastern chipmunk is found abundantly throughout the middle and eastern sections of the United States. This is supplemented with insects, earthworms, slugs, bird’s eggs and mushrooms. The adaptive nature of the social system and behavior in eastern chipmunk… Range The eastern chipmunk is found in southeastern Canada and most of the the northeastern United States south to Mississippi and Virginia and west to North Dakota and Oklahoma. Topics The Eastern Chipmunk is eaten by predators such as foxes, hawks, and snakes. Litter sizes are dependent on resource availability and the age of the mother. (Da Silva, et al., 2002; Kurta, 1995; Saunders, 1988), At birth, young weigh just 3 grams. Eastern chipmunks defend their home ranges. During a brief estrous period, females mate with multiple males. Chipmunks are lively little creatures that are found […] No other member of the squirrel family in Georgia has stripes on its back or head like the Eastern Chipmunk. When in another's territory, a chipmunk will be wary. The Eastern Chipmunk is diurnal, except during long periods of freezing or extreme winter weather, when it becomes inactive and remains in the nest. Because olfactory cues are moisture dependent, scatter-hoarding in mesic climates are quickly pilfered. Eastern Chipmunk If you live near woods in the eastern half of the United States, this is the kind of chipmunk you might see. Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes). Food. Chipmunks range in size from 8 to 10 inches long (including the tail) and weigh between 2 to 5 ounces. Eastern chipmunks defend their home ranges. Eastern chipmunks increase vigilance, run shorter more direct distances and delay emergence from burrows after hearing an alarm call, which suggest that the calls directly affected behavior. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. "Tamias striatus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. It grows to 11 inches (28 centimeters) and weighs up to 4.4 ounces (125 grams). forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality. Typical population density is 10 to 22 chipmunks per hectare. These little rodents measure about 5 or 6 inches long, with 4- or 5-inch-long tails. (Kurta, 1995; Saunders, 1988), Some Sciurids cause destruction to crops in gardens, fields and in food storage areas. Common name: Eastern Chipmunk. Males trill farther from the burrow, 100 m or greater. The eastern chipmunk is found in southeastern Canada and most of the the northeastern United States south to Mississippi and Virginia and west to North Dakota and Oklahoma. If you would like to support this Breeding males have the largest home range. The eastern chipmunk is found throughout New Hampshire. The young are weaned after about 6 weeks. Caching behavior is determined by the moisture content of the environment. The young are weaned after about 6 weeks. Each critter also has its own range. the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic. The most commonly distributed chipmunk is the Least Chipmunk ( Chipmunks don't always get along when vying for the nuts humans are passing out! Also, least chipmunks' olfactory cues are weak in comparison. The primary function of trill calls is likely to warn nearby relatives of predators. Two black stripes and one white stripe runs down each side of their body, from the neck almost to their tail. The eastern chipmunk is thought to be almost entirely solitary except outside the breeding season when the young are present with mother. Range. Chipmonks often create burrows in well-hidden areas near objects or buildings. (Kurta, 1995), Eastern chipmunks are primarily 'larder hoarders'. having more than one female as a mate at one time, breeding is confined to a particular season, reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female, places a food item in a special place to be eaten later. At this time they become independent of the female. Swampy areas appear to be avoided. Phylum: Chordata Behavior . reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female. The female will stay in heat for a short time during which the male will extensively guard the female from other males looking to mate. Da Silva, K., C. Mahan, J. Da Silva. The habitat range varies for each specific species. The Eastern Chipmunk is found in forests of the Piedmont and mountains of northern Georgia, and ranges over the forested eastern half of the United States, except on the southeastern Coastal Plains. The majority of chipmunks live in western North America, with one species in eastern North America and one species in Asia. A mature Eastern Chipmunk can breed twice a year, beginning in March, with the first litter of 2-7 (usually 4-5) young being born in April after a 31-day gestation period. This is mostly due to their size and the fact that they provide the most meat to a hunter. The eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) is a chipmunk species found in eastern North America.It is the only living member of the chipmunk subgenus Tamias, sometimes recognized as a separate genus. (Da Silva, et al., 2002; Kurta, 1995; Saunders, 1988), Eastern chipmunks produce two litters per year; one in early spring and one in midsummer. Acknowledgements | Eastern chipmunks demonstrate food caching behavior throughout the year, but are particularly active in the early autumn to prepare for winter. Accessed December 10, 2020 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Tamias_striatus/. The least chipmunk’s range includes most of Canada, the US Rocky Mountains, the Great Basin, and parts of the upper Midwest (Fig. 83, No. Population number Some dispersal, up to 0.9 km, will occur. Food is transported within cheek pouches located on either side of the mouth. The range of the eastern chipmunk extends from Quebec Canada south to Northern Florida. Adironack Animals. Journal of Mammalogy, May 2002, Vol. in 43 homing tests 88 per cent (15 of 17) of the chipmunks returned from points 430 to 1500 feet from home, 57 per cent (12 of 21) from half a mile, and 25 per cent (one of 4) released 1 mile distant. Because of their abundance, chipmunks are a valuable prey item for a variety of species. In Native Indian folklore the story is that this animal was all one color until one day is got too close to a black bear. This increases an individual’s overall fitness by helping related individuals. The diet of the Eastern chipmunk primarily consists of seeds, fruit, eggs, and birds (Anderson and Stephens 2002). Territorial calls lead to aggressive behavior when another individual is present. Juvenile females trill at a lower rate than adults, this may indicate their higher predation risk or smaller fitness gain. Download a printable version of this page See more of our Animal of the Monthfeatures for kids The eastern chipmunk’s range includes most of the eastern United States. Range. The frequency range is similar to the ones adopted by Eastern chipmunks. Eastern chipmunk population densities may be as high as 10 animals per acre (24/ha), however, if sufficient food and cover are available. at http://www.turtletrack.org/Issues01/Co01132001/CO_01132001_Chipmunkstripes.htm. Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) Description and Range: The eastern chipmunk is the only chipmunk found in Maryland. When in another's territory, a chipmunk will be wary. Yahner, R.H. 1978. The Eastern chipmunk is common in southeastern Canada and the northeastern United States. Their range includes eastern Louisiana and the Florida Panhandle. Seeds stored in this way cannot establish seedlings and are not beneficial to plant dispersal. A comparative study of caching and pilfering behavior in two sympatric species, least chipmunks (Tamias minimus) and eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus). The Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) is a small, striped rodent found in mature hardwood and mixed wood forests in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York.Eastern Chipmunks (like American Beaver and North American Porcupine) are assigned to the rodent (Rodentia) order, the single largest group of mammals.The Eastern Chipmunk is a member of the squirrel family (Sciuridae). at www.iucnredlist.org. Ecoscience, 18(2): 130-137. The nest may be as much as 0.9 m (3 ft) below the soil surface and 1.8 - 3.7 m (6 - 12 ft) away from the burrow entrance. Home ranges often overlap among individuals. The Siberian chipmunk is the only species that is found outside of North America - its range extends throughout northern Asia, from central Russia to Japan. Eastern chipmunks have large cheek pouches located on either side of their mouth. Most conflicts with chipmunks are nuisance problems. Ethology, 106: 1057–1066. The stripe along their body distinguishes them from all other rodents except least chipmunks. 34(4):448-458. Accessed Taxon Information Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. The tail length of an Eastern Chipmunk is 2.75”-4.3” (7-11 cm). Acorns, hazelnuts, seeds, berries, insects, and snails. The surface entrance to their burrow measures 5 cm across and does not contain excavated soil. Between these stripes, the fur may be brown, tan, or white. Eastern chipmunks are widely distributed throughout the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. To see a long-eared chipmunk, though, you’d have to be in the mountains of California. Each critter also has its own range. Eastern chipmunks are noticeably larger than least chipmunks, which helps to distinguish between the two species. Classification, To cite this page: They prefer living in deciduous and mixed forests. Disclaimer: Eastern chipmunks establish a home range of roughly 40m, which consists of a tightly defended area around a burrow and a larger less defended area beyond 40m in which the animal tolerates others (Wilson and Ruff 1999; Baker 1983). Some dispersal, up to 0.9 km, will occur. The tail is well haired but not bushy, is somewhat flattened, and is shorter than the body. Michelle Kroll (author), Michigan Technological University, Joseph Bump (editor), Michigan Technological University, Leila Siciliano Martina (editor), Animal Diversity Web Staff. Browse Tags About. Around humans, chipmunks can eat cultivated grains and vegetables, and other plants from farms and gardens, so they are sometimes considered pests. Their tail does not have the bushiness of a tree squirrel. Winters are spent underground. Help us improve the site by taking our survey. Home range size varies from 800 to 6,000 m2. The Eastern Chipmunk is eaten by predators such as foxes, hawks, and snakes. Eastern chipmunks mainly occur at an altitude of 1220 m (4000 ft). home range size in eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) in Michigan varied from 0.58 acres (a) to 8.01, with a mean of about 2.23 a. Manville (1949) also studied Tamias in Michigan and reported a home range size that varied from 0.19 to 0.43 a, with a mean of 0.25 a. The eastern chipmunk has light stripes above and below its eyes and it has pouched cheeks that it uses to store and carry food. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Kroll, M. 2013. Chipmunks are the smallest members of the squirrel family, according to National Geographic.The biggest species of chipmunk is the Eastern chipmunk. Eastern chipmunks spend more time digging and searching for caches because least chipmunks hide seeds away from objects, which could be used as markers. Tail is blackish above and rusty below symmetry such that the size of home ranges the... 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