Welcome to my World

Welcome to my World

Befriending Chipmunks

The Summer of 2017 was my first year without any cats.
Last Summer my old Kitty Squeeker ( 19 yrs. old ) crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
I made a new friend this summer, Chip the Chipmunk. I've always loved the
little creatures and found them most adorable, but Cats aren't very nice
to Chipmunks, but this Spring knowing they weren't in danger I started feeding 
them piles of sunflower seeds. Watching them was such a delight. Before long they were eating from my hand........now one, Chip, climbs all over me
for grapes, blueberries, walnuts, pecans and raw peanuts. ( we steal from my Husband's peanut brittle stash kept in the freezer)

( Click the images to enlarge)




Chipmunk Habitat
Chipmunks feel most at home in areas with plenty of ground cover, including logs, trees, stumps, shrubs and rocks. While the ideal habitat for chipmunks is a deciduous forest, woodland or brushland, they’re also comfortable in other areas that provide sufficient cover such as urban parks, fence lines, hedges and houses.

Chipmunks dig extensive burrow systems directly underneath or next to natural or manmade cover. They dig two types of burrows: shallow burrows in which they seek refuge while foraging during the day, and deeper, more complex burrows where they nest, store food and spend most of the winter months. Chipmunks rarely venture further than 1/3 mile from their burrows at any time.


Activity:
 Chipmunks are active in the daytime during spring, summer and fall. Chipmunks remain in their deep burrow systems during the winter, where they enter patterns of torpor (deep sleep and lower body temperature) interrupted by periods of feeding.

Reproduction:
 Breeding occurs twice per year - once in the spring and once in the summer - when chipmunks give birth to 4-5 babies at a time

Burrowing:
 Chipmunks dig their own pairs of burrows, excavating as deep as 3 feet underground. Burrows are typically dug directly underneath or next to cover, because a chipmunk always requires protection from predators. Oftentimes chipmunk burrows cause damage when dug next to a home foundation


Hoarding:
 To prepare for the winter hibernation period, chipmunks begin to stockpile nuts and seeds in their burrows during late summer and early fall.


Communication:
 Chipmunks are protective of their burrows and use a range of loud chirps as well as body language to express occupied territory, dominance, or warn their young of danger. Females also have a mating call for which they use their high-pitched, bird-like vocalizations.

Fun Facts
One tiny chipmunk can gather up to 165 acorns in one day.
Chipmunks have pouches inside of their cheeks in which they store food when foraging.
The main entrance of a chipmunk burrow can extend up to 20 feet in length.
A group of chipmunks is called a scurry.

I found this 3lb. bag of walnuts at Sams Club for $12.95. Considering the price of bird seed it's a bargain.













Today was quite the challange......both Zip & Chip decided they would have 
lunch with me in the chair.  Delicate situation.......the little rascals are 
very territorial.


We're eating walnuts by the handfulls today !
Zip's been gone but was back today......





8-11.17
Today's cheeks are full


8 comments :

Sayd said...

Love these videos...sweet little creatures!

Glenda's World said...

❤️ Thanks Sayd

Anonymous said...

This is so cute! I live on a campus in the mountains, and there are so many chipmunks. I just stop and take pictures whenever I can :)

Glenda's World said...

Aren't they dilightful and adorable ?
I'm feeding two but I have to make sure they are fed in seperate areas.......very teritorial

bjgates said...

this is my favorite part of your site. We had so many chipmunks before the flooding in Schoharie county. Now we have very few. It is so sad because we had a huge family of them and i had no way to save them when the flood happened in just a few minutes. I adore them! I even had little houses for them on our trees but they loved living under our swimming pool which had a lot of sand and pebbles under it and they seemed to love it. Unfortunately I couldnt get them out when the water started, our pool was destroyed and I lost my little chippie family. This brings awareness to the most adorable little critters ever!! thank you! brenda

Anonymous said...

Just love your videos of chipmonks. I'm from western NY and now living in Florida. Sure do miss those little critters. All we have here in Florida is gators.

Anonymous said...

I've got chipmunks in my backyard that seem to have grown pretty comfortable with me since I've been working outside this year. Thanks for the great info on what they eat! I'm gonna start leaving a little food out for them.

Glenda's World said...

Anonymous,
They are so delightful to watch and enjoy.
I'm sure you'll become close friends.