Eastern Chipmunk

Family: Sciuridae, Squirrels

Description: Reddish brown above; belly white. 1 white stripe bordered by 2 black stripes on sides; stripes end at rump. 2 white stripes on back much thinner than side stripes. Dark center stripe down back; pale facial stripes above and below eyes. Tail brown on tip, edged with black. Prominent ears. L 8 1/2–11 3/4" (215–299 mm); T 3 1/8–4 3/8" (78–113 mm); HF 1 1/4–1 1/2" (32–38 mm); Wt 2 1/4–5 oz (66–139 g).

Similar Species: Least Chipmunk has 4 white stripes of equal width on back.

Breeding: Mates in early spring; 1 litter per year of 3–5 young born in May. First-year females not breeding in early spring may produce a litter late July–August.

Habitat: Open deciduous woodlands, forest edges, brushy areas, bushes and stone walls in cemeteries and around houses.

Range: Southeastern Canada and ne U.S. east from North Dakota and E. Oklahoma, and south to Mississippi, NW South Carolina, and Virginia.