![]() ![]() The Siberian chipmunk is the only species that is found outside of North America - its range extends throughout northern Asia, from central Russia to Japan. Western chipmunks inhabit the western states as well as most of Canada. As indicated by its name, the eastern chipmunk inhabits most of the eastern half of the United States and Canada. Identifying Features: Shades of brown/yellow/grey fur with white and black stripes down the backĪll species of chipmunks are native to North America, except one - the Siberian chipmunk.Average Lifespan in the Wild: 2-3 years.Average Size: 2-6" long with a 3" tail less than 1 lb.Neotamias (mostly western chipmunks - 23 existing species).Chipmunks also rely on their cheek pouches for hoarding extra food for winter.Shop Chipmunk Solutions » view Full Pest Library » As a security measure, it will store food in multiple locations. A chipmunk is very careful in safeguarding its food supply from invaders. They consume food from these stores during winter. This is because they store a large number of nuts and seeds within their burrows during summer and autumn. Chipmunks will occasionally wake up from their sleep to feed, urinate, and defecate before replenishing their energy supply and going back to sleep again.Įven though they wake up during the cold months, you are unlikely to see a chipmunk emerge from its burrow. Their body temperature drops as well during this state. Their bodies undergo physiological changes such as a slowed heart rate and respiration rate. They are not true hibernators and will slip into a mild state of torpor. ![]() Chipmunks “Hibernation”Ĭhipmunks survive in the winter through a variety of techniques. They will eat food from their cheek pouches, and when this food supply ends, they will rely on their multiple caches of food for survival. Chipmunks also store food in their cheek pouches as they drift off to sleep during winter. These cheek pouches can be used to carry a significant amount of food back to their burrows. Use of Cheek Pouches During WinterĬhipmunks are excellent hoarders because of their specially adapted internal cheek pouches as well. It is also said that thousands of oak, beech, and maple trees are planted as a result of these forgotten food stores. As time goes by, these food stores can nourish the soil. It often happens that chipmunks will also forget where they stored their pile of nuts and seeds. This helps ensure their survival during winter. Some chipmunks will also have multiple emergency caches. These animals tend to have emergency food cached in a separate burrow that is well away from their usual food stores. Even if another chipmunk invades their food stores, the chipmunk will not be faced with a shortage of food. They don’t just rely on volume but also on location. This is because these items are less likely to perish in storage and will be edible after several long months as well.Ĭurious? Read this: What Do Chipmunks Eat? What Food Do They Like? Multiple Caches of Food for WinterĬhipmunks tend to be quite creative in terms of storing food. These burrows (or tunnels) can be at least 30 feet long.Īlthough the chipmunk consumes a variety of foods such as nuts, seeds, fungi, berries, and insects, their food supply for winter consists of nuts and seeds. These stores of food are kept deep within their burrows. It spends the months of summer and autumn in collecting and storing food so that it can be consumed later. Instead of consuming food and building up its energy stores, the chipmunk chooses to be a hoarder. ![]() The chipmunk’s behavior is inherently different in this sense. If an animal is unable to consume a sufficient amount of food before winter, then they will starve to death during hibernation and never wake up. Once these animals enter into a state of hibernation, they use this stored energy to survive through winter. Most animals that hibernate will spend summer and autumn eating all possible food items. However, the chipmunk wakes up from its sleep during winter and eat before going off to sleep again. This state of torpor is similar to the one associated with true hibernation. This falls to 40 degrees Fahrenheit during winter ( source). This goes down to 20 breaths per minute.Ĭhipmunks normally maintain a body temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Their regular respiration rate is 60 breaths per minute. As their body enters into a state of sleep/torpor, their heart rate and respiration rate gets reduced ( source). 3 Chipmunks “Hibernation” Physical Changes in Chipmunks to Prepare for Deep SleepĬhipmunks may not hibernate fully like other animals, but their bodies’ experience several physiological changes that help them survive winter. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |