472 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



24. GROUND SQUIRREL 



TAMIAS STRIATUS (Linnseus) 



The Ground Squirrel or Chipmunk is an interesting and famil- 

 iar little animal in all suitable situations in Indiana. Every farm- 

 er's boy in the State knows it well. Wherever there are open woods 

 or pastures and old decaying trees, rocky ledges overgrown with 

 vines, fallen timber and brush piles, and Virginia rail fences that 

 have not been well kept, there the Chipmunk is quite sure to be 

 found. Though still abundant in most parts of Indiana they are 

 less so than formerly. At one time they were so numerous as to 

 be regarded as a serious pest and bounties were paid for their 

 scalps. 



About Maxinkuckee they are still rather common and may be 

 seen almost anywhere about the lake and on adjoining farms. 

 Nearly all portions of the lake shore are favorable. Wherever 

 there are old trees on the north, east and south sides, there you 

 may find Chipmunk families. The old oaks at the southwest corner 

 of the lake and those on Long Point have never, since our ac- 

 quaintance with the lake, been without their Ground Squirrels. 

 The open woods between the two lakes and Walley's woods are also 

 favorite situations. A visit to any of these regions would almost 

 certainly be rewarded by a glimpse of a pair or more of thesp 

 merry creatures. 



On Long Point several pairs usually have their homes, and from 

 May or June until late in October they may be seen chasing each 

 other along the fences or sitting at the root of some hollow old oak 

 where they often remain chirping hours at a time. During the 

 winter of 1900-1901, one had its home under the cottage in which 

 we lived. During the fall it was seen daily gathering nuts, seeds, 

 and grain which it stored for winter use. On bright sunny days it 

 worked persistently from early morning until evening, usually 

 stopping in the middle of the forenoon and again about two o'clock 

 in the afternoon to sit on the south steps of the cottage or at the 

 root of a gnarled old oak near by, where it would keep up an almost 

 incessant chirping for an hour or more. Toward evening it gener- 

 ally disappeared, not to be seen again until 7 or 8 o'clock next 

 morning. On dark and gloomy days it sometimes failed to ap- 

 pear. On November 27 it went into winter quarters and was not 

 seen again until the twentieth of March following when it was seen 

 scurrying about as lively as ever. From that date on it and others 

 were noted occasionally on bright sunny days until warm weather, 

 when they might be seen every day, usually near the edge of their 



