Chipmunks are undeniably adorable, with their bright eyes, fluffy tails, striped backs, and plump cheeks.
From their complex personalities to their eating habits, social behaviors, and preferred habitats, chipmunks have a surprising range of traits.
1. Chipmunks Sleep Around 15 Hours a Day
At least in captivity, chipmunks get about 15 hours of sleep daily. If wild chipmunks sleep similarly, they must accomplish all their energetic foraging and darting around in the remaining nine hours.
2. They Belong to the Squirrel Family
Weighing just 1 to 5 ounces (28 to 142 grams), chipmunks are among the smallest members of the squirrel family. This also makes them distant relatives of woodchucks and prairie dogs, which share this family branch.
3. Most Chipmunks Live in North America
Of the 25 chipmunk species, most are found across North America, from Canada to Mexico, in environments ranging from forests to deserts. The Siberian chipmunk, however, is native to northern Asia and parts of Europe, where it was introduced in the 1960s.
4. They Prefer Living Underground
While some chipmunks nest in logs or bushes, most dig extensive burrows underground. These hidden homes, often 10 to 30 feet (3 to 9 meters) long, feature a camouflaged entrance, food storage, and a clean nesting chamber lined with leaves and plant material.
5. Chipmunks Have Many Predators
Nearly every carnivore larger than a chipmunk poses a threat. From owls and hawks to foxes, coyotes, snakes, and even other squirrels, chipmunks must stay vigilant. They quickly dash for safety, either down their burrows, into the brush, or up trees to escape danger.
6. They Have a Varied Diet
Chipmunks are omnivores and will eat a range of food, from nuts and berries to insects and even small frogs or baby birds. They can collect up to 165 acorns in a single day, storing food in their cheek pouches, which can expand to three times the size of their heads.
7. Some Chipmunks Hibernate, but Not Continuously
From late October to March or April, some chipmunks enter a deep sleep, slowing their heart rate and body temperature. However, unlike bears, they don’t hibernate continuously. They wake up periodically to eat from their food stores and may even venture outside.
8. Baby Chipmunks Are Especially Cute
Newborn chipmunks, called kits or pups, are born blind, hairless, and helpless. They weigh just 3 grams but grow rapidly, leaving the nest by 4 to 6 weeks. The sight of tiny, energetic chipmunks can be even more adorable than their grown-up counterparts!
9. Chipmunks Are Solitary Creatures
Unlike their cartoon portrayals, real chipmunks are territorial and often solitary. They will chase away intruders and only come together to mate, which happens twice a year. After mating, males and females separate, and the females raise their young alone.
10. They’re Not Silent
Although they don’t sing like Alvin and his brothers, chipmunks are quite vocal. They use various calls, such as chips, chucks, and alarm trills, to communicate, often in response to predators. Their high-pitched vocalizations are so common that many people mistake them for bird calls.
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