Hobbies And Interests
In Forests
One of the chief habitats of the chipmunk is the forest. These animals can thrive in deciduous forest and shrubland, as well as areas of alpine forest. Within the forest, chipmunks often shelter around large rocks or under logs, where they can remain out of sight of some of their natural predators. Such predators include foxes, snakes and hawks, and chipmunks are a substantial form of prey for these creatures. Chipmunks living in forests snatch bird eggs and raid nests, but they also help to maintain forest ecosystems by aiding in the dispersal of seeds, which they gather and hoard from the forest floor.
In Urban Areas
Chipmunks are happy to co-exist alongside humans in urban areas, but the people who live in such places may not feel the same towards the animals, since chipmunks have a habit of stealing seeds and fruit and consuming the bulbs of flowers. Chipmunks can damage properties in large numbers, too, when they attempt to burrow under foundations. This activity can affect the integrity of houses as well as damage areas such as stairs and patios.
Western Chipmunks
Some chipmunks prefer open areas, including prairies and fields, to forest environments. These chipmunks include the seventeen species often termed as Western chipmunks, who inhabit areas including Sonora in Mexico as well as parts of Japan and Russia. Western chipmunks also make their way onto mountain ranges.
Burrows
Chipmunks create burrows to live in, by tunnelling into the earth, typically around rocks or logs; these burrows tend to be approximately 13 feet in length, but can reach up to 30 feet in some extreme cases. The animals cover the burrow entrance using leaves, and sometimes build extra entrances. Within the burrow, the chipmunk fills one chamber with grass and uses it as a sleeping space, while other, lower, areas are utilized for the storing of food supplies, since these parts are the coolest spaces in the burrow.
Hibernations
Throughout the winter, the chipmunk will depend on a supply of foods such as seeds and nuts it has gathered beforehand. Chipmunks tend to stay in their burrows during this time, eating only occasionally and doing little else, though they do not go into a state of total hibernation as other animals do. Chipmunks emerge in spring, typically during March.