EASTERN CHIPMUNK 



Fisher Chipmunk.— raw m^ striatus fisheri Howell. 



Paler and grayer than typical striatus, smaller than griseiis, 

 intermediate m color between striatus and lysteri. Total 

 length, 10 inches; tail vertebras, 3.6 inches; hind foot i 4 

 inches Found m the "Middle Atlantic States from the 

 lower Hudson Valley, New York, south to southern Virginia 

 and extreme eastern Kentucky, and west to Ohio " 

 (Howell) 



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The Eastern Chipmunk is one of the best known of our 

 small eastern mammals and is familiar to every farmer's boy 

 and to every hunter and man who lives an out-of-door exist- 

 ence. Its bright coloration, alert, active behavior, and 

 shrill, chirping call-note readily set it apart from any other 

 eastern Squirrel. In the western United States, some of the 

 small Ground Squirrels look very much like the Eastern Chip- 

 munk, but differ sufficiently in detail (see Say Ground 

 Squirrel, page 197) to be recognized as distinct animals. 



The Common Chipmunk, while a true Squirrel, belongs 

 to the section of the Squirrels which spend most or all of their 

 existence on the ground, living in holes in the earth, as dis- 

 tinguished from the Squirrels which live in the tree-tops. It 

 is perhaps not as far advanced in its terrestrial habits as the 

 western Ground Squirrels, and climbs up stumps and trees 

 on occasion. It has been seen at considerable heights feeding 

 in beech or elm trees, and when seeking refuge from a Dog 

 climbs freely, although it is by no means as capable in this 

 respect as is the Red Squirrel. 



The Chipmunk has an inquisitive disposition and is very 

 apt to linger on the verge of safety to scold and chatter at an 

 intruder. The commonest alarm note is a shrill, chirping 

 , whistle, which is accompanied by twitches of the tail or jerk- 

 ings of the body. When not disturbed the Chipmunk has a 

 distinctive call, a "chuck" or "cluck." 



The Eastern Chipmunk goes into complete hibernation 

 when cold weather sets in and spends the winter curled up in a 

 ball in its nest underground. The time for the winter dis- 

 |appearance varies with different regions and with the severity 

 jof each particular season. An average time would be from 

 jSeptember to October, and the time of reappearance March 

 |to April. This animal does not become excessively fat in 

 Ithe autumn as do most hibernating mammals. 



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