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| Photos by Vickie Henderson |
Squirrels can be divided into two basic groups: tree squirrels and ground squirrels. They are easy to tell apart by their behavior. When frightened, a tree squirrel climbs up a tree and a ground squirrel runs into a hole.
If you travel farther west than East Tennessee, ground squirrel identification gets a little more complicated. There are 25 species of chipmunk in the world and 24 of them live in North America but most live out west. Some occupy very limited ranges. The Charleston Mountain chipmunk is only found in the mountains of the same name in Nevada and the Sonoma chipmunk lives in northwestern California. Unless one gets on a bus to go visit the other, their paths never cross.
Our only local species is the Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus). Although they are good climbers, they prefer to stay on the ground and live in extensive burrows they dig under stumps, logs, rock piles or stone walls. Like most mammals that sleep in very hidden places, it has been estimated that chipmunks sleep up to 15 hours a day. Mammals that sleep in more exposed places or drive cars and work 9-to-5 jobs get much less sleep. Chipmunks primarily eat acorns, nuts, berries and seeds and are blessed with fairly large cheek pouches for carrying their provisions from place to place.
If you travel farther west than East Tennessee, ground squirrel identification gets a little more complicated. There are 25 species of chipmunk in the world and 24 of them live in North America but most live out west. Some occupy very limited ranges. The Charleston Mountain chipmunk is only found in the mountains of the same name in Nevada and the Sonoma chipmunk lives in northwestern California. Unless one gets on a bus to go visit the other, their paths never cross.
Our only local species is the Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus). Although they are good climbers, they prefer to stay on the ground and live in extensive burrows they dig under stumps, logs, rock piles or stone walls. Like most mammals that sleep in very hidden places, it has been estimated that chipmunks sleep up to 15 hours a day. Mammals that sleep in more exposed places or drive cars and work 9-to-5 jobs get much less sleep. Chipmunks primarily eat acorns, nuts, berries and seeds and are blessed with fairly large cheek pouches for carrying their provisions from place to place.
Generally when you see a chipmunk it is scurrying about, quickly. You get a brief glimpse. That's why local artist Vickie Henderson was surprised to look through her window and see a cloister of munks, probably a Mom bringing her litter out to get a peek of the above ground world.
I did not used the phrase, "soooooo cute," but if you want to you can.
Thanks, Vickie.
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