Friday, February 24, 2012

Fun Facts Friday - What Am I?

Chuck-chuck-chuck.’

What’s that sound? It’s coming from an old log. As you search the sound changes.

'Chip-chip-chip.’

Now it’s fast and high-pitched. Suddenly, there’s a rustling of leaves. With lightening speed and a blur of racing stripes it zips past and disappears down a hole.

What Am I?

A Chipmunk!

There is about twenty-one different species of chipmunks living all over the United States and Canada. These rodents are closely related to the squirrel. How can you be sure what you saw was a chipmunk? It’s easy. Chipmunks are smaller (8-10 inches long) and have black and white ‘racing’ stripes down their grey and reddish colored backs. Also, those weird hiccup-like noises you heard are unique to the chipmunk. It’s his way of trying to ‘scare’ you away form his home.

Chipmunk Chambers

These hard-working rodents prefer to make their homes under the ground. They dig out long tunnels that lead to a sleeping chamber. Here, there’s a soft bed made from leaves, grasses or the fluff from seed heads. They also dig out another area to keep food in. Since chipmunks stay under the ground all winter long, they need to collect lots of food when the weather is warm.

Cheeky Chipmunk

Have you ever stuffed so much food into your mouth at once, that your cheeks puffed out? Chipmunk cheeks are extra stretchy so they can do just that. The chipmunk is constantly searching for his favorite foods of nuts, berries, acorns and seeds. They also like a bit of meat, so they’ll eat bugs and worms as well.

Once his cheeks are full, he quickly bounds back to his den to unload his haul.  The chipmunk may have to travel a ways from his den to find food, so these built in ‘storage compartments’ come in handy.

So next time your at the park, in the woods or even in someone’s back yard, keep your eyes peeled and your ears perked. You never know one of these cute little rascals might just pay you a visit.

Colour your own chipmunk by printing out our Chipmunk Colour Page!

7 comments:

Paula said...

Hi Sandi Lee! Thanks so much for visiting my blog. I'm now your newest follower :))

Have a good weekend!

xo,Paula
lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com

Sandie lee said...

Thank you back =)

Sandie

gracescraps@gmail.com said...

Chipmunks are so adorable!! I'm here from Create with Joy's Friendship Friday. ~ Blessings

http://gracescraps.blogspot.com/

Sandie lee said...

Thanks for stopping by Tracey =)

Allison Downes said...

Aww! Chipmunks are so adorable!!

Found you in the hop New GFC Follower, Hope you will follow me back and check out my giveaways!

http://giveawayhog.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

Happy to be your newest GFC follower. This post made me smile. We have chipmunks who are family in our back yard. They often make us giggle and our dogs think their BFFs! I think the chipmunks idea of their friendship is still questionable. Going to explore your great blog! We think you'd like See Beautiful too!

Happy seeing beautiful!
http://seeabeautifulworld.blogspot.com/

momto8 said...

they might look cute..but they dig up my roots in my garden... but still..they are so fun to watch..we have a bucket of scrapes that we collect before we bring it to the compost...those chippies make a mess with it!!
i am your newest follower...pls follow back if you can.

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