What kind of fur does a chipmunk have?
Their scrotal sac is covered with whitish-gray fur; the darker the fur the more mature the chipmunk is. During their breeding season, males travel outside of their home ranges, often some distance, to locate females and check on their reproductive condition. The females chase and wrestle with the males to see who can keep up with them.
How can you tell a male Chipmunk from a female?
Ordinarily, one can’t tell a male from a female eastern chipmunk as they look identical –but there are two times during the year when it is possible, with luck and good eyesight, to tell one from the other. One is right now, in the early spring, when chipmunks first emerge from their underground burrows.
How long do chipmunks live in the wild?
Chipmunks are social animals, and both the male and female raise their young. Chipmunks have a life span of 2 – 7 years in the wild. Although chipmunks are vulnerable to forest fragmentation, they are not currently threatened.
When does an eastern chipmunk choose her mate?
The females chase and wrestle with the males to see who can keep up with them. When a female comes into estrus (the end of February/ beginning of March) she chooses her mate. The chosen male flicks his tail vertically and screams prior to copulation (another way to distinguish the sexes).
What do you need to know about Chipmunks?
Chipmunk Facts Chipmunks are small, ground-dwelling members of the squirrel (Sciuridae) family known for their burrowing habits and love of nuts. Despite their size, chipmunks can cause significant damage to homes, yards, and farms. Below, learn important information about chipmunks, including general facts and how to identify chipmunk damage.
How does a female chipmunk choose her mate?
Male Chipmunks will often overlap female territories, females will attract males for breeding by chirping loudly and males will fight over the females and the female will often choose which male she will mate with but sometimes its whatever one catches her first. After mating the female brings her babies up on her own.
When does a Chirpie Chipmunk become sexually mature?
You can sometimes lose the mother and then have to hand-rear the babies or she may reject them. This can be very tough and extremely heart-breaking sometimes. The age Chipmunks became sexually mature depends on the time of year they were born. Chipmunks born in the spring will normally breed the next spring.
Is it OK to keep a single sex Chipmunk?
Unless you have a good reason for breeding your Chipmunks you should just keep single-sex. A reputable breeder should care more about the home being a good home than how much they will get for the babies.
