Eastern Chipmunk

rodent · eastern-north-america · adorable · burrowers

Speedy little acorn hoarder. Eastern chipmunks are famous for stuffing their cheeks with nuts and seeds to carry back to their burrows, sometimes gathering hundreds of acorns in a single autumn.

Underground city builder. They dig complex tunnel systems with multiple rooms for storing food, sleeping, and raising babies, creating underground homes that can stretch over 30 feet long.

The only Tamias alive. The eastern chipmunk is the sole surviving member of the genus Tamias, making it extra special compared to other chipmunk species in North America.

Hibernation helper. During winter, they don't fully hibernate like bears do, but instead enter a deep sleep called torpor where they wake up to munch on their stored food.

Striped speedster. With distinctive reddish-brown fur and black and white stripes running down their back and face, eastern chipmunks are easy to spot darting around forests and gardens.