Eastern chipmunk
The eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) is a chipmunk of the deciduous forests of eastern North America.[1][2]
Description
It is a fairly robust chipmunk, with a brown stripe down the middle of the back. On each side this is flanked by banded fur, two black stripes and a whitish stripe, and the belly is white. Adults are about 146 to 150 mm long from head to rump, with a tail of about 88 to 95 mm.[1]
Distribution and habitat
The species ranges from southern Manitoba to Nova Scotia and south to Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, and has been introduced to Newfoundland.[3] It depends on burrow sites, fallen wood and seed-bearing trees such as oaks and red maple, and copes well with fragmented woodland.[1][2]
Behaviour
The eastern chipmunk is active by day.[3] It mostly eats seeds, but it also takes animal food, including the young of ground-nesting birds. It stores food in its burrow and also buries it in scattered caches.[3] One animal's cheek pouches held more than 122 maple seeds.[2] In winter it goes into bouts of torpor lasting one to five days, living mainly on its stored food rather than body fat.[2][3] Individuals have distinct scents.[4] It gives three distinct calls, known as chipping, chucking and trilling. Trills are given when a predator is chasing it, and the other calls usually when a predator is seen.[3]
Breeding
There are two mating periods, from late February to early April and from late June to July. Up to eight males may chase one female.[5] Mating takes place on the ground and is brief, recorded at 88 seconds in one study and 1.5 to 3 minutes in another.[6] Koprowski notes that in chipmunks and Sciurus tree squirrels, where many males gather round a female, mating times are especially short.[7] Pregnancy lasts 31 to 32 days, and litters usually have four or five young. Males disperse farther than females.[3] Most live two to three years, and some live to six.[5]
Predators
Predators include hawks, owls, snakes and carnivores.[5] Recorded predators include red-tailed hawks, goshawks, weasels, red foxes, bobcats, coyotes and domestic cats and dogs.[3] Young chipmunks seem particularly at risk from birds of prey such as Cooper's hawk.[8]
Status
Animal Diversity Web lists the eastern chipmunk as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.[3]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Thorington, Richard W. Jr.; Koprowski, John L.; Steele, Michael A.; Whatton, James F. (2012). Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 343. ISBN 9781421408682.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Thorington, Richard W. Jr.; Koprowski, John L.; Steele, Michael A.; Whatton, James F. (2012). Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 344. ISBN 9781421408682.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Kroll, M. (2013). "Tamias striatus". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan.
- ↑ Roberts, S. Craig (2007). "Scent Marking". In Wolff, Jerry O.; Sherman, Paul W. (eds.). Rodent Societies: An Ecological and Evolutionary Perspective. University of Chicago Press. p. 263. ISBN 9780226905365.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Thorington, Richard W. Jr.; Koprowski, John L.; Steele, Michael A.; Whatton, James F. (2012). Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 345. ISBN 9781421408682.
- ↑ Koprowski, John L. (2007). "Alternative Reproductive Tactics and Strategies of Tree Squirrels". In Wolff, Jerry O.; Sherman, Paul W. (eds.). Rodent Societies: An Ecological and Evolutionary Perspective. University of Chicago Press. p. 93. ISBN 9780226905365.
- ↑ Koprowski, John L. (2007). "Alternative Reproductive Tactics and Strategies of Tree Squirrels". In Wolff, Jerry O.; Sherman, Paul W. (eds.). Rodent Societies: An Ecological and Evolutionary Perspective. University of Chicago Press. p. 94. ISBN 9780226905365.
- ↑ Ylönen, Hannu; Brown, Joel S. (2007). "Fear and the Foraging, Breeding, and Sociality of Rodents". In Wolff, Jerry O.; Sherman, Paul W. (eds.). Rodent Societies: An Ecological and Evolutionary Perspective. University of Chicago Press. p. 333. ISBN 9780226905365.