Walking on the Wild Side

As we step into another exciting month, we have some incredible events coming up you may not want to miss. Here is a quick highlight before digging in to another wildlife feature.

UPCOMING EVENTS

 The Artist's Shop - Month Long Exhibit (8/1-8/30)

August 2nd: Artist's Reception 5-8 pm @ The Artist's Shop
127 N Higgins Ave, Missoula, MT 59802
 

The 1900  - Month Long Exhibit (8/23 - 9/26)

August 23rd: Artwalk 5-8 pm @ The 1900
103 N Main St Livingston, MT 59407

 

Chipmunk Chatter: Exploring the World of Chipmunks

This month’s newsletter will enter the world of our smallest member of the squirrel family, the chipmunk. Chipmunks are easily recognized by their distinctive stripes that run down their backs and across their faces. There are over twenty different species of chipmunks found across North America, but distinguishing between the different species through pictures alone is next to impossible, so therefore I will not attempt to label the individual species. Suffice it to say, they will all be labeled "chipmunk(s)" for the purposes of this newsletter. I do need to make one distinction however, and that is between chipmunks and golden-mantled ground squirrels. Having similar stripes on their bodies, they are often confused with chipmunks. The golden-mantled ground squirrels will be slightly larger, and lack striping across the face. If you have ever seen the cartoon “Alvin and the Chipmunks”, the animals portrayed in those shows are actually golden-mantled ground squirrels!

A chipmunk on the run clearly shows the distinctive features of a chipmunk, the stripes across its back and face.

Compared to a golden-mantled ground squirrel on the run.  See the lack of stripes on the face and small stubbier tail. 
 

Chipmunks can adapt to many different habitats. They can be found living anywhere from sea level to elevations over 12,000 feet. They inhabit a variety of environments, including forests, shrub-lands, and even suburban areas. You may often see them foraging for food across the ground but they are just as willing to climb high in a tree to find the food and nutrients they need.

Picture 1: A chipmunk snacks on a tasty treat it found on the ground.

Picture 2: I took this picture of a chipmunk in a tree at eye level with me ~ 5.5 feet high. 
 

Much to some home owners dismay, chipmunks are known to create intricate burrow systems with multiple entrances and chambers for storing food, nesting, and escaping predators. If they take up residence in and around your yard you are likely to see lots of evidence of these burrows. In the winter, safely nestled in one of their chambers, they enter a state of torpor, where their metabolic rate drops, but they do not fully hibernate. They will wake periodically to eat from their stored food caches and often one of the first the first animals to poke their heads out from their burrows each spring. It always brings me joy to see them as it means that warmer weather will be coming soon.

Picture:1 A chipmunk pokes it head out from one of its many tunnel entrances.
Picture:2 A chipmunk gathers cotton for its burrow which is dispersed by the cottonwood trees every spring. 

Chipmunks are known to communicate through different sounds with a variety of predator alerts that indicate danger via ground or air, to mating calls and even territorial calls to defend their borrows. Having spent many hours watching and interacting with them, I knew they were very vocal but never realized the complexity of all the different vocalizations until I did a little research. Wild animals are all full of surprises.

Picture 1: Portrait of a chipmunk.
Picture 2: Two chipmunks scavenging seeds from a native grass appear to be sharing, but don't be fooled ... they are not social creatures.   

Like many other members of the squirrel family, chipmunks often appear to be hyped up on caffeine. Their life is one of quick and constant movement with sometimes hilarious antics. They never seem to hold still for more than a second or two. Along with other members of the squirrel family, chipmunks are some of my favorite animals to watch. They are very expressive and adventurous animals which I love to capture with my camera.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this edition on chipmunks. Stay wild and stay inspired!

 

Lea Frye - Wildlife photographer

 

 

www.leaf-images.com     |      Lea Frye, Wildlife Photographer        |    Helena, MT

                     Wild Animals / Wild Landscapes