![]() Instead, they wake up periodically and eat food that they have hoarded. What makes chipmunks’ hibernation different from their ground squirrel cousins is that most chipmunks do not accumulate extra fat in preparation for winter, as hibernating ground squirrels do. Studies have found that eastern chipmunk’s body temperature drops from 95 to 105.8 ☏ to 41–44.6 ☏ during the hibernation period known as torpor. Chipmunks HibernateĬhipmunks hibernate for periods during winter. A chipmunk can gather up to 165 acorns a day. They do this by stuffing seeds and nuts into their cheek pouches so they transport a lot of food back to their burrow. What Chipmunks EatĬhipmunks are omnivores with a varied diet:Ĭhipmunks are known to hoard food for winter. ![]() They are the smallest creatures in the squirrel family, about 4–7 inches long (without the tail), and weigh between 1–5 ounces. ![]() What Does a Chipmunk Look Like?Ĭhipmunks have large eyes, short legs, and alternating black, brown, and creamy white stripes. īefore we compare the differences between chipmunks and squirrels, you need to know a little about the chipmunk itself. The only one living outside North America is the Siberian chipmunk, which is native to Asia. Twenty-four species live in North America. They have large internal cheek pouches they use to transport the food back to their burrows. Grassland, woodlands, valleys, rocky outcrops, and urban areas with short grass.Ĭhipmunks (Tamias) are terrestrial rodents that are part of the squirrel family. Gray and pale brown to reddish-brown and dark brown with light gray, brown, or creamy white undersides.įorests and urban areas abundant with trees. that reaches from the front to back feet. Long legs, slim bodies, large, round eyes, a long, busy tail, and a gliding membrane. They have slender bodies with long limbs, curved clawed feet, and a long, fluffy tail. Terrestrial squirrels with large internal cheek pouchesīroad head, small rounded ears, and short neck. They also have large internal cheek pouches to transport food back to their burrows. The biggest difference between chipmunks and squirrels is that chipmunks are much smaller than most squirrel species. In this article, we look at what makes chipmunks different and similar to other types of squirrels. What is the difference between chipmunks and tree squirrels, ground squirrels, and flying squirrels? Most people think of tree squirrels when they picture a squirrel. Squirrels are commonly divided into three main groups: Īt the same time, there are an estimated 279 species of squirrels. They are the smallest members of the squirrel family (Sciuridae). The main differences between a chipmunk and another squirrel species are their nesting behavior, sleep patterns, size, and physical adaptations (like chipmunks’ cheek pouches).Ĭhipmunks are striped, terrestrial rodents.
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