Warmer weather brings the chipmunks out of their tunnels and into our backyard where we can view them from our kitchen window. Typically, we see up to about a half dozen chipmunks foraging and eating while nervously scanning for predators and scampering here and there. Our chipmunks like to bump others of their kind, as well as birds, and run them off. The young chipmunks especially are fond of chasing their siblings.
Some people don't love chipmunks because they burrow, creating holes in the yard and tunnels that have been known to affect foundations. My husband and I don't care to keep our lawn manicured and our foundation is pretty solid, so a few holes don't bother us. Chipmunk antics are some of the best parts of our daily backyard soap opera from late spring to early fall.
We miss them in the winter when they sleep and hang out in their tunnels in a state of torpor. Occasionally when the weather is unseasonably warm the chipmunks will come out to gather food to supplement what they stored up during the fall. Our backyard seems a little less fun and funny when they aren't around. It's good to see them back!
When we first installed our bird feeders it was the squirrels that quickly learned to climb and pilfer birdseed. We tried several remedies to dissuade them, and drove ourselves a bit crazy, before giving up and just enjoying the show. It seemed to take at least another year before the chipmunks began copying the larger cousins. They tried climbing unsuccessfully before they finally mastered the technique. I was so pleased to see their ingenuity. They are tiny but mighty in their way.
We have several prowling neighborhood cats that cycle through our yard on a daily basis watching for prey to pounce upon. Occasionally we see a chipmunk struggling in the mouth of a cat hurriedly exiting our yard. The cats know better than to tarry as we clap and chase them away when we see them out stalking. Laws, social propriety, and an acceptance of the natural order of things keep us from taking further steps.
As we are new hunters and spending more time in the woods, we are learning that nature is replete with predator-prey relationships. It's just sad to us meat eaters that well-fed pet cats don't chase, take and kill chipmunks for food, but just as part of their predator instinct. I have read that putting a bell on a cat's collar is a way to warn chipmunks of a stealthy approach.
As we are new hunters and spending more time in the woods, we are learning that nature is replete with predator-prey relationships. It's just sad to us meat eaters that well-fed pet cats don't chase, take and kill chipmunks for food, but just as part of their predator instinct. I have read that putting a bell on a cat's collar is a way to warn chipmunks of a stealthy approach.
Chipmunks are omnivorous, primarily eating seeds, nuts, other fruits and buds. Their fondness for seeds helps establish seedlings in the forest. They also eat grass, fungi, insects, worms and eggs. Don't tell my husband, but they eat baby birds as well. Hopefully not in our backyard, as they get plenty of birdseed!