Chipmunks are small, striped rodents found across North America and parts of Asia. These members of the squirrel family inhabit forested areas and shrublands, where ground cover helps them forage and evade predators. The largest species, the Eastern chipmunk, can grow up to 11 inches long and weigh around 4.4 ounces.
Chipmunk Daily Rhythms
Chipmunks are diurnal animals, active from dawn until dusk. Their daily routine involves foraging, gathering materials, and interacting with their environment. At night, they rest and sleep within their underground burrows, as their eyes are adapted for daytime vision, making them less suited for navigating in the dark.
During the day, chipmunks collect nuts, seeds, berries, and insects, using their expandable cheek pouches to carry food back to their burrows. They are most active in the early morning and late afternoon. Chipmunks require about 15 hours of sleep daily, often taking short naps. After sunset, they retreat to their burrows until sunrise, conserving energy and staying safe from nocturnal predators.
Their Underground Sanctuaries
Chipmunks construct underground burrow systems for shelter. These burrows protect them from predators and harsh weather. The burrow entrance is typically small, one to two inches wide, and camouflaged without a visible dirt mound, as chipmunks scatter excavated soil away from the opening.
Their intricate tunnel networks can extend up to 30 feet long and three feet deep. Within these systems, chipmunks excavate various chambers. A main nesting chamber is lined with insulating materials like leaves and grasses. Burrows also contain separate storage chambers for food and sometimes specialized areas for waste. These complex underground homes are defended by individual chipmunks, as they are largely solitary.
More Than Just Sleeping
While chipmunks sleep nightly, their inactivity extends beyond daily rest, especially during colder months. They enter torpor, a state distinct from true hibernation. Torpor significantly reduces metabolic activity, body temperature, and heart rate, conserving energy when food is scarce or temperatures are low. During torpor, a chipmunk’s body temperature can drop from 94°F to about 40°F, and its heart rate can slow from 350 to as few as four beats per minute.
Unlike deep hibernators, chipmunks periodically awaken from torpor every few days. These brief awakenings allow them to access and consume food caches in their burrows. They may also relieve themselves. This intermittent waking and feeding pattern differentiates their torpor from longer dormancy. This strategy helps chipmunks survive winter without needing extensive body fat reserves.