Critter Science
  • Zoology
    • Ecology
      • Animal Conservation
        • CITES: Protecting Wildlife
        • Endangered Animals
        • Ex Situ Explained
        • In Situ Explained
      • Ecosystems
        • The Biomes
      • Evolution. The Facts.
        • Animal Devolution
        • Arachnids – What are They?
        • Evolution of Amphibians
        • Evolution of Birds
        • Fish and Sharks
        • Natural Selection
        • Primate Language: The Debate
        • What is a Marsupial?
      • Predator vs Prey
      • Producers and Consumers
    • Sustainability
      • Climate Change
      • Global Warming
      • Pollution
        • Air Pollution
        • Land Pollution
        • Microplastics Pollution
        • Water Pollution
      • Recycling
      • Renewable Energy
    • Animal Behavioral Patterns
      • Types of Animal Dormancy
    • What are Species?
      • Amphibians vs Reptiles
      • Animal Reproduction
      • Claws, Nails, and Talons
      • Frogs vs Toads
      • Fur and Hair
      • Gecko Feet
      • Invasive Species
      • IUCN Statuses
      • The Enigmatic Purr
      • Venom vs Poison
      • What is a Marsupial?
    • About the Critterman
  • Daily Critter Facts
    • Amphibian Facts
      • Frog Facts
      • Newt Facts
      • Salamander Facts
      • Toad Facts
    • Arthropod Facts
      • Arachnid Facts
      • Insect Facts
    • Bird Facts
      • Flightless Bird Facts
      • Predatory Bird Facts
      • Scavenger Bird Facts
    • Cryptozoology
    • Fish Facts
      • Cephalopod Facts
      • Crustacean Facts
      • Jellyfish Facts
      • Reefs
      • Shark and Ray Facts
      • Shellfish Facts
    • Flying Mammal Facts
    • Gastropod Facts
    • Land Mammal Facts
      • Canine Facts
      • Feline Facts
      • Lagomorph Facts
      • Marsupial Facts
      • Primate Facts
      • Rodent Facts
      • Ungulate Facts
    • Parasite Facts
    • Reptile Facts
      • Crocodilian Facts
      • Lizard Facts
      • Snake Facts
      • Turtle Facts
    • Sea Mammal Facts
      • Dolphin Facts
      • Porpoise Facts
      • Sea Lion Facts
      • Seal Facts
      • Whale Facts
    • Worm Facts
  • For Teachers
    • Animal Quizzes
      • Amphibians Quiz
      • Bird Quiz
      • Cat Quiz
      • Dolphin Quiz
      • Insect Quiz
      • Reptile Quiz
    • Butterfly Life Cycle
      • Butterfly Metamorphosis
      • World’s Largest Butterfly
      • World’s Largest Moth
    • Metamorphosis – A Frog’s Life Cycle
    • The Cellular Structure of an Animal
    • Insect vs Bug
    • Animal Word Search
    • Coloring Pages
  • Study Guides
    • African Animals
    • Antarctica Animals
    • Asian Animals
    • Australian Animals
    • Central American Animals
    • European Animals
    • North American Animals
    • South American Animals
  • Diseases & Parasites
    • Bsal
    • Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)
    • Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
    • The Deadly Chytrid Fungus
    • All About Parasites
    • The Rabies Virus
    • White-Nose Syndrome
  • Contact
    • General Contact
    • Guest Article Submission
      • Guest Articles
        • Guest Articles – 2024
    • What Critter is This?
    • Animal Welfare Organizations
    • Privacy Policy
Subscribe
eastern chipmunk

The Eastern Chipmunk

  • 25 August, 2021
  • Critterman
  • No Comments
  • 809 Views
  • 3 Likes
Daily Critter Facts, Land Mammal Facts, Rodent Facts

The eastern chipmunk. The cute, furry critters that race around and gather food for the winter months and earn our love, via their cuteness overload. They have been portrayed via animation and song alike. These diminutive critters are members and the smallest participants of the squirrel family. You can find these tiny rodents throughout southeastern Canada on down through the mid-western and eastern United States. They prefer brushland with rocky ground, deciduous forests, and locales with lots of logs and tree stumps.

First the Stats…

Scientific name: Tamias striatus
Weight: Up to 4.4 ounces
Length: Up to 11 inches
Lifespan: Up to 3 years

Now on to the Facts!

1.) Their burrows usually include a well camouflaged entrance, tunnel systems that can reach up to 30 feet long, a very clean and tidy nesting chamber, and food storage areas.

2.) The eastern chipmunk is diurnal (active during the day).

3.) Using as much energy as they do, they need to recharge their batteries, thus they sleep up to 15 hours a day.

4.) Eastern chipmunks undergo torpor (a type of hibernation) during winter. Where they will frequently wake up and forage for food, if necessary.

5.) A group of chipmunks is aptly called a scurry.

But wait, there’s more on the eastern chipmunk!

6.) They are primarily herbivores (eat plant matter) but also exhibit an omnivorous (eats plant and animal matter) diet as well.

7.) The eastern chipmunk eats fruit, seeds, nuts, mushrooms, earthworms, slugs, insects, and even bird eggs.

Did you know…?
A single chipmunk can collect up to 165 acorns a day.

8.) These critters are polygynous (1 male mates with several females).

9.) Females go through up to a 35 day gestation (pregnancy).

10.) The female will birth up to 5 pups in February – April and in June – August.

But wait, there’s still more on the eastern chipmunk!

11.) It’s believed that they came to get their name due to the “chip-chip” sound they make.

12.) Owls, hawks, weasels, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, bobcats, lynxes, cats, dogs, snakes, and even squirrels all prey on chipmunks.

13.) Their cheek pouches can hold up to 3 times the size of their head!

14.) Even though they are portrayed as companions in the cartoons, chipmunks are solitary creatures that only come together to mate or if food is abundant.

Now a Short Eastern Chipmunk Video!

Be sure to share & comment below! Also, check out the Critter Science YouTube channel. Videos added frequently!

Want to suggest a critter for me to write about? Let me know here.

Learn more about all kinds of cool critters, right here!
burrowCanadachipmunkeastern chipmunknorth americarodentsquirrelUnited States
Critterman

With over 50 years of critter experience to my credit and hundreds of zoology teaching hours to people around the world, I have amassed not only a continuing thirst for critter knowledge but a desire to teach others all I can about the majesty and wonder of our natural world. Critter Science is a culmination of such knowledge. I have hands on as well as book acquired intel on all kinds of critters. Whether they're on land, sea, or in the air. I will never say that I know everything about all animals. That's impossible, even for a savant. But, that being said, ask me any animal question and I'll answer it. If I don't know the answer, I'll get an answer for you!

The Sika Deer
The Magnificent Amur Leopard
Related Posts
  • Nepal house martin
    The Nepal House Martin 4 July, 2025
  • booted eagle
    The Booted Eagle 3 July, 2025
  • Wyoming toad
    The Wyoming Toad 2 July, 2025
  • Daily Critter Facts
  • Guest Articles
  • BYET
  • Teachers
  • Study Guides
  • Contact

Copyright © 2025, Critter Science. All Rights Reserved.