Eastern chipmunks are only native to the Nearctic region. They live throughout eastern and central United States as far south as Louisiana and Mississippi. They occur north into Canada including southern Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba, and New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

Tamias striatus inhabits most of eastern North America including southeastern Canada, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan.

(Anthony and McSpadden, 1937; Nowak, 1991)

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: Southern Manitoba to Nova Scotia, south through most of the eastern U.S. except much of Coastal Plain of Southeast.

Eastern chipmunks are reddish brown in color. Their backs are striped with alternating black, white, and reddish-brown. Their eyes are rimmed with white fur. Their stomach is usually a yellowish brown or white color. Their tails are reddish brown tipped with black and well-furred.  Eastern chipmunks have cheek pouches that they use to transport food items, nesting material, and soil from their burrows. When these cheek pouches are full each can be nearly the size of the chipmunk's head.

Range mass: 80.0 to 150.0 g.

Average mass: 130.0 g.

Range length: 215.0 to 285.0 mm.

Average length: 255.0 mm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike

Average basal metabolic rate: 0.813 W.

Perhaps the most distinctive characteristic of all chipmunks is their pouched cheeks. The pouches are located in the sides of their mouths and are used to store food. When the pouches are full they can be as large as an entire chipmunk's head.

Eastern chipmunks are larger than most chipmunks. They are reddish brown in color with 5 black stripes on their backs. These stripes are separated by brown, white, or grey fur stripes. They also have white and dark markings around their eyes. The stomach is usually a yellowish brown or white color. Their tails are reddish brown and furry, but not bushy like common squirrels. Like many rodents, Tamias striatus has 4 toes on the front feet and 5 toes on the rear feet.

(Allen, 1987; Nowak, 1991)

Range mass: 80.0 to 150.0 g.

Average mass: 130.0 g.

Range length: 215.0 to 285.0 mm.

Average length: 255.0 mm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike

Average basal metabolic rate: 0.813 W.

Length: 30 cm

Weight: 139 grams

Eastern chipmunks are found primarily in open, deciduous forests throughout their range. They are often found near rocks, stumps, or fallen logs which serve as perching and runway sites. They construct burrows in dry, well-drained soil. These burrows can be quite extensive and include storage chambers for food and multiple entrances. Eastern chipmunks hide burrow entrances with leaves and rocks and may live in them for several years.  Eastern chipmunks do well in urban and suburban areas by using parks, golf courses, cemeteries, and woodlots.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: forest

• Terrestrial

Eastern chipmunks live in shallow burrows in the ground. They are partial to areas near rocky crevices, decayed tree trunks, and fence corners. They do not like dense forests where no sunlight reaches the ground. Burrows are made by digging and carrying away the dirt in their pouched mouths. Unlike prarie dogs and other sciurids, eastern chipmunks do not leave the dirt in mounds near the entrances of their burrows. This makes it harder for predators to find chipmunks in their homes. These burrows can be up to 30 ft. in length with several different exits and tunnels. Eastern chipmunks conceal the exits with leaves and rocks. They may inhabit these burrows for several years.

(Allen, 1987; Anthony and McSpadden, 1937; Nowak 1991)

Habitat Regions: temperate

Terrestrial Biomes: forest

Comments: Prefers deciduous woodlands with ample cover, such as brush piles/logs, rocky forested slopes, ravines. Also found in brushlands and hedgerows. Commonly climbs trees/shrubs. Burrows often open at edge or rock, near base of tree, or under edge of building. Nest is generally constructed below ground in an extensive burrow system.

Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Home range is less than 1 ha, typically 0.08-0.60 ha, largest in early summer and early fall; core area of home range is defended against conspecific neighbors; largest home ranges are those of breeding males; low water availability may result in increased home range size.

Individuals may make long movements outside their usual range; nondispersing individuals have lifetime home range lengths of up to at least 0.5 km, and dispersal movements may extend to at least 0.9 km (Roberts 1976).

Eastern chipmunks are omnivores. They eat a wide variety of foods including nuts, acorns, seeds, mushrooms, fruits, berries, and corn. They also eat Insecta, Aves, and sometimes small animals such as young Peromyscus leucopus.

Animal Foods: birds; mammals; eggs; insects

Plant Foods: seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit

Other Foods: fungus

Tamias striatus eats a wide variety of foods including nuts, acorns, seeds, mushrooms, fruits, berries, and corn. They also eat insects, bird eggs, and sometimes small vertebrates such as young mice.

(Anthony and McSpadden, 1937; Godin, 1997 from Nowak, 1991)

Animal Foods: birds; mammals; eggs; insects

Plant Foods: seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit

Other Foods: fungus

Primary Diet: omnivore

Comments: Utilizes a wide variety of seeds, fruits, and nuts, some mushrooms and insects.

Eastern chipmunks are often common small mammals in the areas where they live. Because of this they are important as prey items for small predators such as bobcats, foxes, hawks, owls, and snakes. Eastern chipmunks also may disperse the seeds of the plants that they eat and aerate and recycle soil as a result of the burrowing.

Eastern chipmunks are alert and fast, they take refuge in their underground burrow systems to escape from predators. Eastern chipmunks are preyed on by Vulpes vulpes, Squamata, Accipitridae, Strigiformes, Falconidae, and Mustela.

Known Predators:

• red foxes (Vulpes_vulpes)
• snakes (Serpentes)
• hawks (Accipitridae)
• owls (Strigiformes)
• falcons (Falconidae)
• weasels (Mustela)

Eastern chipmunks are often common small mammals in the areas where they live. Because of this they are important as prey items for small predators such as bobcats, foxes, hawks, owls, and snakes. Eastern chipmunks also may disperse the seeds of the plants that they eat and aerate and recycle soil as a result of the burrowing.

Eastern chipmunks are alert and fast, they take refuge in their underground burrow systems to escape from predators. Eastern chipmunks are preyed on by foxes, snakes, hawks, owls, falcons, and weasels.

Known Predators:

• red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)
• snakes (Serpentes)
• hawks (Accipitridae)
• owls (Strigiformes)
• falcons (Falconidae)
• weasels (Mustela)

Depending on the season, densities may vary from less than 1 to 15 per acre (Yerger 1953), sometimes up to 30 per acre. In Virginia, populations were highest in the year following a large mast crop (Wolff 1996, J. Mamm. 77:850-856).

Eastern chipmunks have excellent vision, hearing, and sense of smell. They communicate with each other by making a variety of sounds, including the 'chip' for which they are named.

Eastern chipmunks have excellent vision, hearing, and sense of smell. They communicate with each other by making a variety of sounds, including the 'chip' for which they are named.

Comments: Active during the day. In winter, becomes torpid, with frequent arousals. Activity may be reduced in late summer (Lacki et al. 1984). Active mostly late April-December, especially in fall, at southern limit of range.

About half of all chipmunks in any given year are young that were born in that season. Chipmunks in the wild live, on average, just over one year.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 1.0 years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 3.0 years.

Average lifespan

Status: captivity: 8.0 years.

About half of all chipmunks in any given year are young that were born in that season. Chipmunks in the wild live, on average, just over one year.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 1.0 years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 3.0 years.

Average lifespan

Status: captivity: 8.0 years.

Eastern chipmunks have 2 breeding seasons. One season begins in February and lasts until April and the second begins in June and ends in August. Males and females do not stay together after they mate. Eastern chipmunks can begin having babies when they are about 1 year old. The time from when a female gets pregnant to when she gives birth is 31 days and the usual litter size is 4 to 5, although litters as large as 9 have been found. Young Eastern Chipmunks do not appear above ground for 6 weeks after they are born.

Breeding season: February-April, June-August

Range number of offspring: 1.0 to 9.0.

Average number of offspring: 4.0.

Average gestation period: 31.0 days.

Average weaning age: 6.0 weeks.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1.0 years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1.0 years.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); fertilization ; viviparous

Average birth mass: 3.4 g.

Average gestation period: 31 days.

Average number of offspring: 5.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)

Sex: male: 228 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)

Sex: female: 187 days.

Young are cared for in the nest by their mother until they are weaned at about 6 weeks old. Soon after that they disperse from their mother's range.

Parental Investment: altricial ; female parental care

Tamias striatus has 2 breeding seasons. This is unusual among sciurids. One season begins in February and lasts until April, the second begins in June and ends in August. They do not form monogomous pairs. Females are in estrus for 3-10 days. The gestation period is 31 days and the usual litter size is 4 to 5, although litters as large as 9 have been found. Young eastern chipmunks do not appear above ground for 6 weeks after they are born. Both male and female eastern chipmunks reach sexual maturity at about 1 year old.

(Allen, 1987; Anthony and McSpadden, 1937; Nowak, 1991)

Breeding season: February-April, June-August

Range number of offspring: 1.0 to 9.0.

Average number of offspring: 4.0.

Average gestation period: 31.0 days.

Average weaning age: 6.0 weeks.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1.0 years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1.0 years.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); viviparous

Average birth mass: 3.4 g.

Average gestation period: 31 days.

Average number of offspring: 5.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)

Sex: male: 228 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)

Sex: female: 187 days.

Young are cared for in the nest by their mother until they are weaned at about 6 weeks old. Soon after that they disperse from their mother's range.

Parental Investment: altricial ; female parental care

Breeding period is from mid-March to early April. A second breeding period occurs from mid-July to mid-August involving young of the previous year. Gestation lasts 31 days. Litter size is 4-15 (3-5 most often). One to two litters per year. Commonly lives 2-3 years, sometimes 5-6 years.

Eastern Chipmunks are not in danger unless where they live is destroyed. The main threat to their survival is farmers who kill them to save their crops.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

Eastern chipmunks are not in danger as their habitat remains extensive. The main threat to their survival is agriculture. Many sciurids are a nuisance to farmers who kill them to save their crops.

(Nowak, 1991)

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Comments: Mahan and Yahner (1998) found no evidence of a population response to forest fragmentation in central Pennsylvania. Nupp and Swihart (1998) found that this species may be negatively affected by forest fragmentation, possibly through increased rates of predation.

Eastern chipmunks sometimes search for food in farm fields causing destruction of crops.

Negative Impacts: crop pest

Eastern chipmunks have played a small role in the fur trade. They eat insects and may help to control the numbers of insects. They also can distribute seeds of different plants to new areas.

Positive Impacts: body parts are source of valuable material; controls pest population

Sciurids often forage for food in agricultural fields causing destruction of crops, but eastern chipmunks are not present in large enough numbers to do significant damage.

Negative Impacts: crop pest

Chipmunks have played a small role in the fur trade. They eat insects and may help to control populations of some insect species. The play a role in the dispersion of plants and of mycorrhizal fungi.

Positive Impacts: body parts are source of valuable material; controls pest population

Comments: Based on ectoparasites (Jameson 1999) and genetics (Piaggio and Spicer 2001), the Texas Tech North American mammal checklist (Baker et al. 2003) adopted Neotamias as the generic name for all North American chipmunks (except Tamias striatus).

Thorington and Hoffmann (in Wilson and Reeder 2005) noted that chipmunks could be legitimately allocated to one (Tamias), two (Neotamias, Tamias), or three (Tamias, Neotamias, Eutamias) genera; they chose to adopt the single-genus (Tamias) arrangement.