THE CHIPMUNKS
The only chipmunk species found on Cape Cod is the Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus). See more info below.
Photographs by Alan Gael Hagberg
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The only chipmunk species found on Cape Cod is the Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus).
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Eastern chipmunks are small ground squirrels, about 5–6 inches long with a 3–4 inch tail-roughly a third the size of an Eastern Gray Squirrel.
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Their fur is reddish-brown with five black stripes on the back (one central, two on each side), separated by white stripes. They also have distinctive white and black lines above and below the eyes.
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Cheek pouches can expand up to three times the size of their head, allowing them to transport large amounts of food.
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Eastern chipmunks are common throughout Cape Cod, the South Shore, and across the eastern half of North America wherever trees are present.
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They prefer forests, woodlots, and areas with ground cover like logs, rocks, or shrubbery, but are also frequently found in suburban yards and gardens.
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Chipmunks are diurnal (active during the day) and spend most of their waking hours foraging for food, which they store in underground burrows.
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Their diet includes nuts, seeds, berries, mushrooms, fruits, insects, small frogs, bird eggs, and occasionally small birds.
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They play a beneficial role in the ecosystem by dispersing seeds, aerating soil, and distributing nutrients.
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Chipmunks create extensive burrow systems with nesting and food storage chambers. Entrances are usually well-hidden to avoid predators.
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They are not true hibernators; instead, they enter a torpid state during winter, waking every few days to eat from their stored food supplies.
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On Cape Cod, chipmunks generally become inactive in late October and re-emerge in March or April, occasionally surfacing during warm winter spells.
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Eastern chipmunks breed twice a year: once in early spring (March–April) and again in early summer (June–July).
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Each litter consists of 2–5 young, born after a gestation period of about 31 days.
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Chipmunks are often considered both cute and a nuisance, as their burrowing can damage lawns, gardens, patios, and building foundations.
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They are also known for raiding bird feeders and feeding on garden plants and flowers.
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Natural predators include hawks, snakes, foxes, coyotes, weasels, bobcats, and domestic pets.