Eastern Chipmunk

Hi there! I’m an Eastern Chipmunk. You might have seen me zipping across the forest floor like a little rocket. I have reddish-brown fur with cool black and white stripes down my back. These stripes are not just for looks; they help me blend in perfectly with all the leaves and sticks on the ground. My very best feature, though, is my super-stretchy cheek pouches! They work just like little grocery bags that I carry on my face, and they are perfect for stuffing full of yummy nuts and seeds when I find a tasty snack.

I don’t live in a tree like my squirrel cousins. My home is a cozy burrow that I dig deep underground. It’s like a secret hideout! I dig long tunnels that connect to different rooms. I have one special room for sleeping and lots of other rooms that I use as pantries for storing my food. My main job all day long is gathering food. I can stuff so many acorns and seeds in my cheeks that my face looks all lumpy and funny! People have known about animals like me for a very, very long time. A scientist named Carl Linnaeus was the first person to write a scientific description of my family way back in the year 1758.

When the air gets chilly and autumn leaves start to fall, I know it's time to get ready for winter. But I don't sleep the whole winter away like a bear does. I’m a very light sleeper! I spend all of autumn making sure my burrow’s pantries are full to the very top with nuts and seeds. On the coldest winter days, I snuggle up in my warm, leafy nest and take long, long naps. If my tummy starts to rumble, I just wake up, find one of my storage rooms, and have a midnight snack before dozing off again.

I have a little secret that helps the whole forest stay healthy and strong. You see, I bury so many nuts all over the forest that sometimes, I forget where I put them all! The nuts that I leave behind often sprout in the spring and grow into big, strong trees. So, just by being a little forgetful, I am actually a tree-planter! It’s a very important job, and I’m proud to help keep my forest home beautiful and green for everyone.