Eastern chipmunks are not in danger as their habitat remains extensive. The main threat to their survival is agriculture. Many sciurids are a nuisance to farmers who kill them to save their crops.
(Nowak, 1991)
IUCN Red List: Lower Risk - Least Concern
US Federal List: No special status
CITES: No special status
State of Michigan List: No special status
Perhaps the most distinctive characteristic of all chipmunks is their pouched cheeks. The pouches are located in the sides of their mouths and are used to store food. When the pouches are full they can be as large as an entire chipmunk's head.
Eastern chipmunks are larger than most chipmunks. They are reddish brown in color with 5 black stripes on their backs. These stripes are separated by brown, white, or grey fur stripes. They also have white and dark markings around their eyes. The stomach is usually a yellowish brown or white color. Their tails are reddish brown and furry, but not bushy like common squirrels. Like many rodents, Tamias striatus has 4 toes on the front feet and 5 toes on the rear feet.
(Allen, 1987; Nowak, 1991)
Other Physical Features: Endothermic; Bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: Sexes alike
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Tamias striatus eats a wide variety of foods including nuts, acorns, seeds, mushrooms, fruits, berries, and corn. They also eat insects, bird eggs, and sometimes small vertebrates such as young mice.
(Anthony and McSpadden, 1937; Godin, 1997 from Nowak, 1991)
Animal Foods: Birds; Mammals; Eggs; Insects
Plant Foods: Seeds, grains, and nuts; Fruit
Other Foods: Fungus
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Eastern chipmunks are usually solitary animals that defend small territories around their burrows. There is considerable competition during the mating season for estrus females, but even if a male outcompetes his comrades the female may reject him by biting him and chasing him out of her burrow.
Although Tamias striatus are solitary animals, they have been seen gathering to "sing," or make noise in chorus. They also make a variety of other noises. The name chipmunk comes from the noise "chip, chip, chip" commonly made by these furry animals.
Many kinds of sciurids hibernate during the cold winter months. eastern chipmunks, however, do not hibernate continuously through the winter, nor do they "fatten up" before retreating to their burrows. They keep large stores of food in their burrows and build nests on top of this treasure. During the winter months they wake up periodically and snack on their stored nuts and seeds.
(Allen, 1987; Anthony and McSpadden, 1937; Nowak, 1991)
Key Behaviors: diurnal; motile; sedentary; solitary; territorial
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Tamias striatus has 2 breeding seasons. This is unusual among sciurids. One season begins in February and lasts until April, the second begins in June and ends in August. They do not form monogomous pairs. Females are in estrus for 3-10 days. The gestation period is 31 days and the usual litter size is 4 to 5, although litters as large as 9 have been found. Young eastern chipmunks do not appear above ground for 6 weeks after they are born. Both male and female eastern chipmunks reach sexual maturity at about 1 year old.
(Allen, 1987; Anthony and McSpadden, 1937; Nowak, 1991)
Key Reproductive Features: Iteroparous; Seasonal breeding; Gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); Sexual; Fertilization; Fertilization :: Internal; Viviparous
February-April, June-August
Young are cared for in the nest by their mother until they are weaned at about 6 weeks old. Soon after that they disperse from their mother's range.
Parental Investment: Altricial; Female parental care
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