chipmunk

Chipmunks are small, striped rodents in the family Sciuridae. Native to North America and parts of Asia, they are ground-dwelling squirrels distinguished by facial and dorsal stripes and expandable cheek pouches for transporting food.

Most species are 7–12 cm long with tails of comparable length and weigh roughly 30–150 grams. Their fur typically shows five dark stripes along the back, with lighter stripes on the sides.

Chipmunks inhabit forests, woodlands, grasslands, and sometimes suburban areas. They forage on the ground and in low vegetation, feeding mainly on seeds and nuts, but also fruits, fungi, buds, and insects. They store surplus food in underground caches, using their cheek pouches to collect items to later transport to a central store.

They are active during the day, with activity patterns influenced by season. In many species, winter survival depends on cached food rather than true hibernation, though some northern chipmunks enter periods of torpor.

Reproduction occurs in spring and summer, with litters of two to six young after a gestation of about 28–32 days. Young leave the nest after several weeks and become independent within a month or two.

Predators include birds of prey, foxes, snakes, and small carnivores. Chipmunks help disperse seeds through caching, though they may also cause garden damage. They are not generally endangered, though habitat loss can affect local populations.