What a Chipmunk?
Eastern Chipmunk (older photo)
I would have never predicted that on December 26 an Eastern Chipmunk would be running around with morning temperatures of 19°F. My Chipmunk friend should be in its torpor state, where he will reduce his body temperature and taking a longer than normal nap! Eastern Chipmunks are not true hibernators and have been known to come out of their burrow when temperatures get warm (note warm!). I wonder if this is a sign that my reddish-brown (with white/black stripes) chippy friend knows that temperatures will be getting warmer than normal this month?? I sure hope he found some seeds on his quick adventure into our icy/snowy wonderland!!
A great older Eastern Chipmunk video of mine!
 Subscribe to Mon@rch |
All Rights Reserved ©2006-2007 |
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 
Wow that is a little weird that your chipmunk friend is out. I love the video and I love his cheeks!!!
Hey, could you make my squirrels go through a torpor state? Please? Forever?
26 December 2007 at 7:11 pm
I think chipmunks and squirrels had a Christmas party in Bergman Park last night. The woods was absolutely FULL of their tracks. I walked for 2 hours before I saw a deer track, but I couldn’t take 2 steps without seeing squirrel. Some of them were so tiny, I think they must have been chippies. One set was mouse with a tail drag…
26 December 2007 at 7:55 pm
Cute-looks like me eating at our Christmas Eve buffet! I didn’t realize that chipmunks semi-hibernate.
26 December 2007 at 7:59 pm
@ Chicago – that was a cute video! Didn’t you watch Christmas Story? Red Rider BB Gun will do your trick but be careful that you don’t shoot your eye out!
@ Jen – Very cool and glad they had a Christmas Party! I have just started getting a Red-squirrel at my feeder again!
@ Larry – thanks and those are me eating my cookies! LOL! Yep and others think Bear go into hibernation which is also false!
26 December 2007 at 8:30 pm
What is it about chipmunks that makes them seem so cute you could just squeeze them? Small size? Cheek pouches? Coloration? In any case, they certainly are very appealing little critters (but this one looks like he needs some snow boots for his poor little feet!).
Happy New Year.
26 December 2007 at 8:35 pm
I haven’t seen our chipmunks about this month, but the red squirrels are sure active. (not to mention the other squirrels…!) That chipmunk in your video was cuter that any Disney creation. You should share it with General Mills (for a price)
26 December 2007 at 8:36 pm
Wow, I bet you were really surprised to see this little guy now!!
26 December 2007 at 9:07 pm
There were some of these fellas hanging around in South Dakota when I went in October. Cute guys and gals!
26 December 2007 at 9:22 pm
@ Bobbie – They are cute and this one might need some boots! LOL
@ Ruth – Ugg, my Red Squirrel just returned and yes, trouble! LOL, it is cute video and the reason I posted it again!
@ Naturewoman – I was shocked for sure! Thanks
@ Misti – They are cute for sure, thanks!
26 December 2007 at 9:37 pm
Excellent chipmunk video, Mon@rch. It made me LOL! It was so fun to see that little ‘munk shoving those cheerios into his already overstuffed mouth.
26 December 2007 at 10:11 pm
Your video made me hungry. Did I say I was hungry?? Couldn’t be after all I ate yesterday. UGH… I do like cheerios too. : ) What a cutie.
26 December 2007 at 11:01 pm
Chipmunks are just so cute. That’s the only way I can forgive them for taking a whole feeder of feed from the birds in just one day.
26 December 2007 at 11:16 pm
it is strange to have a chipmunk out and about this time of year. It certainly isn’t the warm weather around here…
26 December 2007 at 11:41 pm
LOL… what cute chipmunk cheeks!!
27 December 2007 at 6:42 am
@ Ruthie – LOL it was fun in person watching him! Thanks!
@ Lisa – Thanks and cheerios are fun “even after Christmas dinner”!
@ Erie – they don’t do as much damage as those Red Squirrels! And they are cutter!
@ Marty – Tell me about it! At least it’s 32F this morning!
@ Jayne – thanks and very cute!
27 December 2007 at 7:25 am
I hope it does warm up! Hail Chippy! 🙂
LOVE the video, Tom! 😀
27 December 2007 at 9:25 am
Oh, that is so cute! Thank you!
And thanks for stopping by and helping us with our mysterious hawk.
27 December 2007 at 10:59 am
Go back to sleep little guy-Winter ain’t over yet!
love him stuffing his face with cheerios!
27 December 2007 at 11:58 am
Very Cool Monarch!
How did you shoot that video? Did you have the camera at the end of a stick or something?
Tom
27 December 2007 at 1:35 pm
A chipmunk lived under my house in Canada–I could see the little hole where he’d go in. One day I’d thown out a whole bunch of mixed nuts (still in the shell.) The next day, I found ALL the walnuts (walnuts ONLY, now,) piled up over the chipmunk’s hole. They were too large to go in, but he made DARNED sure they were as close as he could get!
27 December 2007 at 3:03 pm
We get chipmunks every once in awhile in the dead of winter…voles too, but our newest doberman caught one, yikes! so I don’t know if we will be seeing much of them come spring.
Cute video!
27 December 2007 at 8:33 pm
He ate as many as his stretched cheeks would allow!
So cute! I won’t be seeing chipmunks for a while as our temps will dip to the teens this week. They had a long summer.
27 December 2007 at 9:19 pm
I haven’t seen an “chippys” lately….but still lots of squirrels out and about 🙂
27 December 2007 at 10:03 pm
The black squirrels have been all over the yard here the last few days
27 December 2007 at 10:34 pm
That was so amazingly cute!!! What a handsome fellow. I kept thinking about your tricks of getting that footage and I think I figured it out. Either you truly are Dr. Doolittle (okay I’ve suspected it for a long time) or you’re doing via remote. Either way.. Excellent!!! p.s. my pups came in two nights ago smelling of skunk… I thought they were supposed to be hidden too! Between you and I – I’d much rather have cheerios eating chipmunk.
28 December 2007 at 1:58 am
I haven’t seen the chipmunks in my yard lately. But I did get a Christmas rabbit. Hope you are having a wonderful holiday. Enjoy your break.
28 December 2007 at 7:12 am
Too cute for words. How can you not love a little guy like that?
28 December 2007 at 12:09 pm
@ Lisa – I do also, thanks
@ threecollie – thanks and not a problem!
@ Marg – Isn’t that cute? I agree, sleep little guy!
@ Tom – thanks and to be honest it was at my feet while I was holding it “hoping the chipmunk was in frame”! They are extra tame with Cheerios!
@ Lana – LOL, that is funny!
@ Birdfreak – Not sure what this guy was thinking but in the 20F’s?
@ Mary – He sure did! LOL and sure did have a long summer!
@ Kerri – I have been seeing the squirrels also!
@ Mike – I have been getting the Red Squirrels! Thanks
@ Aullori – thanks and to be honest I was holding the camera this time!
@ Toni – How wonderful to see the Christmas Rabbit! Any Relation to the Easter Bunny?
@ Wren – thanks and cute for sure !
28 December 2007 at 2:16 pm
What a little piggy! That video is so cute.
29 December 2007 at 1:00 am