Backyard Critters and Projects
Chipmunks, like other animals, can be carriers of pests and diseases. Some of these are common, such as lice and mites. Other may be more dangerous. But before we get to that, let’s take a look at the matter at hand: Do chipmunks carry rabies? Are there any other diseases carried by chipmunks?
Let’s find out!
The chipmunk is among the few rodents in the world whose presence is largely limited to North America (Except for the Siberian chipmunk). Of course, this does not make them any less diverse amongst their other rodent friends. As I have mentioned in my earlier articles, you’ll find 25 different species of chipmunks in North America.
These members of the chipmunk family can be distinguished from each other in several ways. One of these is their breeding cycles, which is precisely the reason for this article!.
One of the questions people often ask about these animals is, “When do chipmunks have babies?” I will give you the best response that I can but there is no one single answer to this question. The breeding cycle of chipmunks varies according to the type of species you are dealing with. Some chipmunks will only have one breeding cycle a year, while others will have two. And, regardless of whether the species has one or two breeding seasons per year, there is still tremendous variability between them based on numerous environmental conditions.
There are 25 species of chipmunks in the world and they are the smallest members of the squirrel family. Their small size, bushy tails, and plump cheeks are the reason some people love these creatures. But while the chipmunk scores high on the cuteness scale, there’s a lot more to these animals that people don’t know about.
In this article, I’ll be discussing where chipmunks live and the habitat of a chipmunk. To be more specific, I will also be talking about how they live and the burrow system of a chipmunk.
If you haven’t noticed it before, chipmunks tend to disappear as the temperatures drop, and we enter into the cold months. They then resurface during March or April when it is spring again. If a particular animal disappears for the winter then you might think that it is hibernating. But what about these guys…Do chipmunks hibernate?
Chipmunks are not true hibernators but they do enter states of torpor. Chipmunks retreat to their burrows and enter a hibernation type state but wake up every few days to eat and defecate. So, instead of hibernating, you can term chipmunks as ‘light sleepers’.
Of course, this brings up another question: How do chipmunks survive in winter? Surprisingly enough, chipmunks will use a variety of survival tactics to make it through the cold months. Let’s take a look at what these are and how they help chipmunks survive in the winter.
Did you know that there are over 25 species of Chipmunks in North America? These cute little rodents are fairly widespread, and their diet is equally diverse. From the Eastern Chipmunk to the Hopi Chipmunk, these rodents will devour a variety of vegetative and animal matter. So, if you’re thinking of Alvin and the chipmunks and how their diet was fairly restricted to acorns, you’re in for a surprise.
So you want to know, “What do chipmunks eat?”
Well then, here is a brief overview of the different Types of Chipmunks in North America and their diets. (All material was sourced from their respective profiles on Animal Diversity Web.)
If you ever find yourself in Japan and you want to have a little squirrely fun, then head out to the woods and see if you can spot the flying squirrels! It turns out that Japan has two types of flying squirrels, the Dwarf and the Giant, and I think they both are pretty interesting.
Let’s take a look at some facts about Japanese Flying Squirrels and see what makes them special.
Let’s get the obvious stuff out of the way….These things are cute as heck!
The Japanese Dwarf is found in the forests of Honshu and Kyushu islands in Japan. These animals grow to a length of about 8 inches and a weight of 150-220 grams (less than half a pound). [Read more…]
I have been interested in flying squirrels ever since watching the Rocky and Bullwinkle show as a kid. I did a little research and discovered that there are 43 species of flying squirrels in the world. Most of these can be found in Asia, and only two (Northern and Southern) are native to the United States of America.
Flying squirrels are fascinating creatures and are distinct from their non-flying family members in several ways. Let’s take a look at some interesting facts about flying squirrels!
Sugar Gliders and Flying Squirrels are both cute little animals that are popular pets. Sugar gliders looks remarkably similar to the flying squirrels found in the US but in reality, these two animals are extremely different. Let’s take a quick look at the differences between these two species.
When I first started writing these squirrel articles I kept getting confused when I was reading about red squirrels. I was seeing contradictory information about these things and was having a hard time understanding why some people are highly passionate about them.
And then I figured it out.
It turns out that there are three different types of squirrels that are commonly referred to as “Red Squirrels” and there are significant differences between them. [Read more…]
Many people say that squirrels are basically rats that were handed a better deal in terms of cuteness. While I agree that squirrels are much cuter than rats, the question remains, “How different are they?” It turns out that rats and squirrels belong to completely different animal Families but they are related in that they are both Rodents. Here is a look at some similarities and differences between these animals.
Squirrels and rats are distinct Families both belong to the largest Order of Mammals, Rodentia. All Rodents have specialized teeth for gnawing that constantly are growing. Both Families exhibit intelligence, problem solving and memory. Other than their teeth and mental capacities squirrels and rats have little in common in terms of behavior, life cycle and impact on humans.