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The chipmunk is a small, thrifty rodent. Animal chipmunk: description and habits

On Latin The name of the chipmunks is spelled Tamias. Regarding the Russian name, there are two versions of its origin. One of them is borrowing and transformation from Tatar language, where “chipmunk” is spelled “boryndyk”. The second option is an origin from the Mari word uromdok, but there are few adherents of this version.

Chipmunks are widespread in North America, they inhabit almost the entire continent. Everyone lives there existing species with the exception of the Asian or Siberian chipmunk, which is found in Eurasia and Russia.

Appearance

Depending on the species, the animals reach a size of 5 to 15 centimeters, the tail can be from 7 to 12 centimeters. Weight varies from 20 to 120 grams. All chipmunks have one common feature- five stripes that are located along the length of the back.

The stripes are separated from each other by black or gray lines. The rest of the animal's fur can be red-brown or black-brown. Because of external resemblance Most species of chipmunks are difficult to distinguish from each other. There are 3 in total, but each of them is divided into another 24 subspecies, so only specialists can figure out whether they belong to a particular family.

Where do chipmunks live? Photos, species distribution area

As stated above, a large number of animals lives in North America. The distribution of chipmunks is so wide that they are found both in central Mexico and in the Arctic Circle. The American chipmunk lives in the eastern part of the North American continent, while 23 subspecies live in the western part.

It is interesting to know where the chipmunk lives, in what zone of Russia. This Far East, Magadan Region, Sakhalin island. Rare, but found in Kamchatka. But most of all he liked cedar and broadleaf forests Primorsky Krai. IN good years the number of animals per 1 square km is 200-300.

In central Europe there are chipmunks that escaped from farms where they were bred and were able to adapt to wildlife. The last species is the small chipmunk, which inhabits Canada.

Habitats

Chipmunks belong to the squirrel family and look like squirrels. However, between the two types there is a big difference. Squirrels prefer to spend a lot of time in trees, while chipmunks live on the ground. Most often they are found in forests, but sometimes they settle in open areas covered with bushes.

The forests where the chipmunk lives, in which zone, depend on the location. For example, in America these are deciduous forests widespread in New England, in Russia - taiga, and Canada - coniferous forests.

Even though chipmunks live on the ground, they need trees. As a rule, where chipmunks live, there are windbreaks, a large amount of dead wood, and the ground is covered with plants in which it is convenient to hide.

These are the places chipmunks look for, and if there are no trees in the area, but bushes densely cover the ground, then they can adapt here. Another important requirement is the presence of a body of water nearby. Therefore, you should look for where chipmunks live in nature in the forests - on the banks of rivers and lakes.

Home for rodents

In order to make a house, the chipmunk digs a hole for itself. Its length can reach 3 m, the burrows always branch. In the hole there are always two branches that end in dead ends - these are the animal’s toilets.

There are always several closets for supplies and living spaces. In them, rodents line the floor with leaves. Here they sleep in winter and at night, and here their children are born and grow up. When they dig a hole, they hide the earth behind their cheeks and carry it away from the place where they live. Chipmunks in the forest carefully hide the entrance to their burrow. It is located under dead wood, in thickets of bushes, under an old rotten stump. Finding a mink without the help of a dog is almost impossible.

Life of rodents

Chipmunks love warmth and hate rain. This is why they show up in warm weather and frolic when they are warm. The exception is species that live in places with constant rainfall.

In winter, animals hibernate, but not as tightly as gophers. They periodically wake up and are refreshed with supplies from the pantries. The chipmunk sleeps with its muzzle on its abdomen or wrapped around its flexible tail.

At the beginning of spring, the inhabitants of the burrows, which are located on sunny slopes and are the first to be freed from snow, go out to explore. At this time, chipmunks are still inactive, spend two to three hours outdoors and prefer to bask in the sun. Most often they can be seen on the tops of trees in the sun.

At such times, the chipmunks do not move far from the hole. They eat buds on nearby plants or eat up winter reserves. When the sun warms up, rodents pull out damp supplies and put them in the sun to dry. If warm days again give way to cold ones, the animals go into their burrows and wait for real spring.

In summer, when it’s hot, chipmunks come out into the air early enough, but so that the ground warms up. They do their work before the heat of the day sets in, and their second exit is in the evening. In places where there is always warm weather and there is no heat or cold, chipmunks can be seen all day long. In autumn, animals crawl out of their burrows after the air warms up. This continues until it gets completely cold.

Animals do not tolerate rain and feel it very well. In places where chipmunks live, a few hours before a rainstorm begins, they stand on tree stumps and make special sounds that are different from their usual “talks.”

Offspring

Chipmunks prefer to live alone and jealously guard their apartments. During periods of mating, they communicate with the opposite sex, after which offspring appear. This occurs in May and then in August. In the spring, before the birth of offspring, a chipmunk can choose an old hollow as a home, because he does not have to think about wintering, and there are fewer enemies in the trees.

The Siberian chipmunk produces offspring once. The number of newborns is 4-8 individuals. Their relatives from America give birth two times, 3-4 times, to four cubs. Chipmunks become sexually mature in their first year of life. IN wild conditions The animal's lifespan is 3 years; in captivity, the figure can reach 10 years.

Young chipmunks for a long time spend time in the nest. When they are old enough, they begin to look for food near the entrance. Gradually they begin to go deeper and further from the hole.

While the cubs are small, the female is not far from the entrance to the hole and, in case of danger, begins to snort in alarm. Then the children quickly run back, squealing in response.

Enemies

Small rodents have a lot of enemies. This predator birds, small animals, people and sometimes bears. The latter most often dig up chipmunks' burrows and eat their reserves. When an animal sees an enemy, it begins to squeak anxiously at certain intervals.

After this, the chipmunk allows the enemy to come to a distance of 30 meters and carefully examines it. If there is real danger, it begins to run, emitting a continuous, frightened squeak. Chipmunks most often hide from their pursuers in the bushes or try to climb a tree. They do not lead their enemies to the hole.

Nutrition

The main food of rodents is what he can get in the forest. This is mainly plant food, but sometimes there may also be small insects. Chipmunks love to eat buds, grains, tree nuts, and plant shoots. If any cereals grow nearby, then chipmunks happily feed on the grain from them.

Sometimes these animals can become real pests. With a small field located next to the hole where chipmunks live in the forest, you can completely lose the harvest. And all this is done by small rodents. In addition, chipmunks eat berries, mushrooms, and can eat apricots and other fruits carelessly planted by people near the hole.

Winter supplies

The chipmunk's supplies are quite varied. All types of food that he can get around his hole are used. The supply is maintained throughout the entire waking period.

According to researchers, where chipmunks live in Russia, their winter food supply reaches about 6 kilograms. The animal divides all its food by type, and even grain from different crops is in different piles. All food is piled on a bed of dry grass or leaves, and the piles are separated from each other by partitions of leaves.

The extraction of grain is interesting. If the ears of corn do not grow too close, the animal looks for the plant richest in grain and jumps on it. The stem bends under the weight and, holding it with its paws, the chipmunk bites off the spikelet itself.

After that, he picks the grains, hides them behind his cheeks and runs into his hole. If the ears grow close and there is no way to tilt them, then the chipmunk bites the stem until it gets to the grains.

Description of the chipmunk

Chipmunk- This small rodent squirrel family. Its length is up to 15 centimeters, and its tail is up to 12. It weighs up to 150 grams.

The name of the chipmunk comes from the characteristic sound called “burun” made before the rain. The chipmunk is similar in appearance, only on its back it has five black stripes along its back. There are light stripes between them.

These animals number 25 species, but the most numerous and widespread are three species:

1. Eastern American chipmunk

2. Chipmunk squirrel or red squirrel

3. Siberian chipmunk(Eurasian)

Chipmunk Features

Their fur is gray-red in color, and on the abdomen it is light grayish to white. They shed once a year in early autumn, changing their fur to dense and warm. Their pulse rate reaches 500 beats per minute, and their breathing rate can reach 200. Normal body temperature is 39 degrees. They are partly similar to a squirrel:

The front legs are longer than the hind legs
Big ears
Little claws

And chipmunks look alike on some external signs and behavior:

They dig holes and live in them.
They have cheek pouches.
There are no tassels on the ears.
Stands on hind legs and monitors the situation.

Chipmunks are not aggressive, compared to squirrels, and quickly get used to people. Therefore, it is not uncommon for people to live chipmunk at home in a cage.

Chipmunk Habitat

Most chipmunks live in North America in deciduous forests. Siberian chipmunk spreads from Europe to the Far East, and south to China. Taiga animals chipmunks They climb trees well, but their home is in a hole. The entrance to it is carefully disguised with leaves, branches, maybe in an old rotten stump, in dense bushes.

The animals' burrow is up to three meters long with several dead-end compartments for storage, toilets, living and feeding the cubs of females. The living room is covered with dry grass.

Chipmunks have large bags behind their cheeks in which they carry food supplies for the winter, and also drag the earth away from it when digging a hole for the purpose of camouflage.

Each chipmunk has its own territory, and it is not customary for them to violate its boundaries. The exception is the spring mating of a male and female for procreation. During this period, the female calls the males with a specific signal. They come running and start fighting.

The female mates with the winner. After this, they disperse to their own territories until next spring. The animals lead a diurnal lifestyle. At dawn they come out of their holes, climb trees, feed, bask in the sun, and play.

When darkness falls, they hide in holes. In the fall, I prepare up to two kilograms of food for the winter, dragging it by the cheeks.

From mid-October to April chipmunks are sleeping, curled up in a ball, and the nose is hidden towards the abdomen. The tail covers the head. But in winter they wake up several times to eat and go to the toilet. In spring sunny days The animals begin to crawl out of their holes, climb a tree and warm themselves.

In the photo, chipmunks are sleeping on a tree

Chipmunks forest animals and about them

When danger approaches, the animal stands on its hind legs and emits an intermittent whistle. 15 meters from a predator or person chipmunk runs away, continuing to whistle more often, diverting danger away from the hole. Usually runs and hides in dense bushes or climbs a tree.

Listen to the chipmunk whistle

You can tell by whistling whether an animal is sitting or running. There are rumors that chipmunk suicidal animal. If someone destroys an animal’s hole and eats all its supplies, then he finds a forked branch, sticks his head into this spear and hangs himself :)

If this were so, then in the taiga one could see numerous gallows made of chipmunks. However, this is not observed.

About chipmunks it must be said that they sometimes become carriers of some diseases dangerous to humans: tick-borne encephalitis and toxoplasmosis. But they themselves are susceptible to many diseases:

Skin – dermatitis
Cardiovascular from fright
Respiratory. In this case, there is sneezing and discharge of fluid from the nose.
Gastrointestinal
Traumatic

Chipmunk as a pet used in many families. He quickly adapts to people and behaves calmly. Considering that chipmunk is not an aggressive animal, after a few days he takes food from a person's hands. But to maintain it, houses are needed special conditions:

The cage must be at least 1 meter by 1 meter and 50 centimeters high
Must have a wheel
Inside the cage there is a house for the night measuring 15 by 15 centimeters with a hole with a diameter of 3 centimeters. Lay dry grass inside.

In a cage they live like a burrow. They go to the toilet in one corner, and put supplies in another corner. Though chipmunks forest animals, but they are unpretentious when it comes to food at home.

They love all types of porridge, fruits, cookies, lump sugar, carrots. Animals need to be given chalk and boiled eggs.

Myself chipmunk clean animal, but you should sometimes remove supplies from his pantry because they spoil. The presence of reserves indicates that the animal is eating enough when feeding. After a few days, he can be let out to walk around the room.

At home, animals do not sleep in winter, but lead an active lifestyle, but they very rarely have offspring.

Reproduction and lifespan of a chipmunk

With the onset of spring, the male and female mate, and after a month, babies from 5 to 12 appear.

After mating, the female drives the male into her territory, and subsequently raises the cubs alone. Feeding babies lasts about two months. After this they can exist independently.

Pictured is a baby chipmunk

The cubs grow disproportionately. First the head grows, and then the body grows. After two weeks, the babies acquire fur with stripes on their backs. After three weeks their eyes open. In nature chipmunks live 2 – 3 years due to the large number of enemies:

The Bears

At home, animals live up to ten years.

Chipmunk food

These animals are rodents. They eat mainly plant foods:

Seeds
Berries
Cereals
Mushrooms
Leaves
Acorns
Nuts

Sometimes chipmunks eat animal food: larvae, worms, insects. If a person plants vegetables near the animal’s home, the chipmunk will happily eat cucumbers, carrots, and tomatoes.

In a grain field, he bites a stalk of cereal, picks out all the grains into his cheek pouches from a fallen ear in a matter of seconds, and runs away.

The animals make supplies in the hole, laying out different types to separate rooms. These bins are needed for spring, when food is practically scarce. When the sun begins to warm up well, the chipmunk takes out the remaining supplies to dry.

The Chipmunks became so beloved that their characters appeared in the cartoons: “Chip and Dale” and “ Alvin and the Chipmunks". And the cities of Krasnoturinsk and Volchansk in Sverdlovsk region have image of a chipmunk on their coats of arms. Movie "Alvin and the Chipmunks" aired in five episodes.

On the screen, viewers meet a trio of chipmunks speaking in a squeaky voice. They not only talk, but also create a musical trio and perform chipmunk songs. Film "Chipmunks" brought fame to musician Dave Saville, who wrote the songs for this series.

Asiatic or Siberian chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus) - a mammal of the genus chipmunks of the sciuridae family of the order of rodents. The only species of chipmunks found in Eurasia (the others are found in North America). It is often classified as a separate genus - Eutamias.

Appearance

The chipmunk is a small (smaller than a regular squirrel), slender animal with an elongated body and a long, fluffy tail. Body length 12-17 cm, tail - 7-12 cm; weight 80-111 g. Limbs shorter than those of squirrels; the hind legs are longer than the front ones. The soles are partially covered with hair.

The color is variegated: on the back, on a grayish-brown or reddish background, there are 5 longitudinal black stripes, separated by light ones. The belly is whitish. The tail is grayish above, rusty below. Hairline short, with a rather coarse spine, color does not change with the seasons. The chipmunk sheds once a year, in July-September. The ears are small, slightly pubescent, without terminal tufts. There are quite developed cheek pouches.

Spreading

The Siberian chipmunk is distributed in the taiga zone of Eurasia: from the northeast of the European part of Russia to the Far East (except Kamchatka), Northern Mongolia, the islands of Sakhalin and Hokkaido. It is especially numerous in the pine-deciduous forests of the Primorsky Territory, where in favorable years 200-300 chipmunks can live per 1 km2.

Lifestyle

The chipmunk is common in dark coniferous and mixed forests with abundant undergrowth of berry bushes; it prefers edges, bright areas, windfalls and litter; less common in deciduous forests. In the mountains it rises to the upper border of forests. In the east of the range it settles among dwarf cedar trees on rocky placers.

It climbs trees well, but constantly lives in shallow, simple burrows. There are usually two chambers in a burrow - a nesting chamber and a pantry, and shallow holes used as latrines. Summer nests are sometimes made in rotten stumps, under the trunks of fallen trees, at the roots, sometimes in low hollows and birdhouses. Chipmunks are active during the day.

The basis of the chipmunk's diet are seeds of conifers (primarily cedar) and deciduous trees(maple, linden, rowan), herbaceous plants, especially sedges and umbrellas; and in spring and summer - shoots, buds and berries of herbaceous plants, mushrooms, lichens, cereal grains (wheat, oats, buckwheat). It can also feed on animal food - insects and mollusks. From August, it begins to store food for the winter (nuts, acorns, grains, dried mushrooms and berries), carrying it in cheek pouches, sometimes from a distance of more than 1 km. The weight of the reserves can reach 5-6 kg. Underground storerooms are often robbed by other taiga animals - squirrels, sables, even wild boars and bears.

From October to the end of March, chipmunks hibernate. Their body temperature at this time drops to 3-8 degrees, their breathing rate decreases to two breaths per minute. However, they periodically wake up to feed.

Chipmunks live alone, each in their own area. Two chipmunks do not get along in the same hole; In captivity, adult chipmunks, placed in the same cage, fight. When the pine nut harvest fails, chipmunks leave their areas and wander.

Chipmunks have a rather complex sound signaling system. When danger arises, they whistle monosyllables or emit a sharp trill, similar to a bird's; females call “hook-hook” during the rut. Before the rain, the chipmunk makes a special sound “burunbu-ryu-burun”, which is why it got its name.

Reproduction

The chipmunk's breeding season occurs in April - May, after awakening from hibernation. Born in late May - June after a 30-day pregnancy. ,The mass of the cubs is 3-4 g, they are born naked and blind. After a few days, dark stripes appear on their backs. Eyes open at 31 days. They stay with their mother for up to 2 months. Life expectancy is 2-3 years in nature, in captivity - 5-10 years.

Meaning for humans

The Siberian chipmunk has little commercial value (the skin is used). In the eastern part of its range, it sometimes damages grain crops, as well as garden crops. Is

Many generations of children have grown up watching Chip and Dale. Everyone loved their mischievous and cute little faces. The animal chipmunk in nature is no less cute character.

Thrifty Jumper

The chipmunk is a small rodent of the squirrel family.

Chipmunks are wonderful animals with puffy cheeks. These animals are rodents and come from the squirrel family.

What does a chipmunk look like?

Chipmunks - small size, their length, excluding the tail, is approximately 16 centimeters. The tail of the animal is not small, about 10 centimeters. Chipmunks are very light in weight, weighing approximately 100 grams. Externally, the animal resembles a squirrel, only very small in size. The coat color of these animals is reddish-yellow, with a lighter color on the abdomen. There are five stripes on the back, located along the body.

Animal habitats

Chipmunks can be found in coniferous and mixed type. In our country, they live in the Far East and Siberia. However, in the Eastern European part it can only be seen occasionally. Favorite places for settlement are the edges located next to forest clearings. Chipmunks also love to inhabit dead wood and rotten stumps.

Lifestyle and behavior of chipmunks

The animal prefers to lead a diurnal lifestyle. It moves beautifully through trees thanks to its tenacious legs. The movements of chipmunks are spasmodic. Their activity depends on the time of year. For example, in the summer these animals begin to live their most active lifestyle. They are cheerful, cheerful, move around a lot, jump in trees, and prepare supplies for the winter, except on very hot days. IN extreme heat they try to do all their “things” early in the morning. In the spring, when the first warm days are just beginning, chipmunks like to climb to the top of a tree and bask in the sun rays. Their behavior at this time is very sluggish and lazy.

In winter, these animals are characterized by hibernation. But, as scientists' observations have shown, chipmunks sometimes still wake up to eat. Their fat reserves are not enough for the entire winter period, so they eat their supplies, prepared for this occasion in the summer.

What do chipmunks eat?

The basis of the diet is nuts, seeds of trees and shrubs. They are especially attracted to seeds from the cones of coniferous trees, such as cedar or dwarf cedar (this tree is a mini copy of cedar, its cones are also tasty, but two times smaller than cedar cones). When collecting nuts, the chipmunk eats some of them immediately, and takes some of them to his storage, making reserves for the winter. These animals can also eat various berries. What interests him most is sometimes not even the berries themselves, but the seeds contained in them (for example, raspberries or rose hips). Sometimes insects or shellfish may come to him for “lunch” as food.

How do these animals reproduce and what kind of babies do they have?

As soon as chipmunks wake up from hibernation, mating season begins. It lasts approximately 2 – 4 weeks. Then pregnancy occurs, its duration in chipmunks is approximately 30 days. One female gives birth, on average, to four to ten chipmunk babies. For 40 days after birth, the cubs feed on mother's milk. When babies reach two months of age, they leave their parents’ “home” and begin to live independently.

Apparently, he is stocking up for the winter...

Fur animals, Rodents

The chipmunk actually looks a lot like a squirrel.. But his similarity with her is not limited to this - they are almost the same in some habits, with the only difference being that the chipmunk prefers to spend a lot of time on the ground, while the squirrel prefers to spend a lot of time on the tree. The chipmunk is most widespread in North America and in the taiga zone of Russia.

Description of chipmunks

The size and weight of chipmunks depend on their species and can reach 5...15 centimeters (tail - 7...12 centimeters) in body length and 30...120 grams of weight. home distinguishing characteristic all chipmunks - the presence of 5 dark lines running along the back and separated by lighter stripes (gray or white). Otherwise, the color of their coat is almost the same and is gray-brown or red-brown. In this regard, the species of chipmunks are extremely difficult to distinguish one from another. There are 3 of them in total, the last of which includes a large number of subspecies - about 24.

Chipmunk Habits

Chipmunk activity occurs primarily in the morning and evening.. During the cold period of the year, it hibernates, but does not fall asleep as soundly as, for example, a marmot or a ground squirrel, so the chipmunk often awakens in the middle of winter, and then, having eaten thoroughly, falls asleep again.

Proof of this is the obligatory reserves for the winter and the small amount of subcutaneous fat deposited, in comparison with other warm-blooded forest inhabitants, who first fatten up and then burrow under the snow, go into dens and holes to spend there all the time until spring.

Chipmunks emerge from their burrows immediately with the onset of warm weather, but in a fan pattern. This is due to which side of the hill their home is located on - on warmer slopes, warmed up by the sun earlier than others, chipmunks appear earlier than others. But if suddenly the warmth is abruptly interrupted by a cold snap, the chipmunks again go into their holes, only to appear again only with the onset of invariably spring days.

The habits of spring chipmunks differ from summer chipmunks: under the not yet hot sun, these animals are more lethargic, sedentary, do not go far from their homes, preferring to climb nearby trees and feast on their buds or settle on the very tops of their heads and bask in the rays of the spring sun. In summer, chipmunks, on the contrary, are playful, active, nimble, mobile and spend more time outdoors, unless, of course, it’s hot.

At the peak of the heat, they emerge from their burrows only before sunrise or almost before sunset. But in the dense thicket, chipmunks do not hide in holes even in hot weather, remaining outside all day. Chipmunks are extremely intolerant of rain and sense its approach very keenly, warning each other with a special clicking sound.

Chipmunk habitats

Most species and subspecies of chipmunks live on the North American continent, where this small animal occupies almost the entire territory - from the central part of Mexico to the Arctic Circle. The only exception is the Eurasian species - the so-called Siberian or Asian chipmunk. It is distributed from northern China and the Korean Peninsula all the way to the northern region of Europe. There is also one on the island of Hokkaido. The Eastern American chipmunk forms a special subgenus, which is found only in the east of the continent. In the central zone of Europe, wild chipmunks have taken root, having escaped from specialized farms that breed them.

Judging by the landscape and vegetation zone, we can note the following: the little chipmunk has chosen the subarctic Canadian coniferous forests, the Siberian chipmunk prefers to live in the taiga, and the eastern American chipmunk prefers to live in the deciduous forests of New England. In addition, some subspecies of chipmunks have adapted to life in open areas, among bushes.

Where does the chipmunk live?

The chipmunk lives in burrows, which it makes in tree roots or rotten stumps. and very rarely - in hollows. Despite the fact that he, like the squirrel, is a tree dweller, he does not necessarily have old tall trees– often the chipmunk gets along well with thickets of willow, birch and bird cherry. However, most of all he prefers dead wood and windbreaks, where it is best to get lost, remaining completely unnoticed. Another requirement for the place where the chipmunk lives is the presence of water. This is why they are most often found in thickets along large streams and rivers.

When digging a hole, the chipmunk throws away the earth as far as possible, carrying it in its cheek pouches at a considerable distance from its home - so that nothing betrays the presence of a dwelling. Inside it can reach 3 meters and, in addition to 1 nesting chamber, have several more - 1-2 for supplies and 1-2 for the toilet. He usually covers the living room with leaves and dry vegetation. This chamber is intended for night rest, hibernation and hatching of young animals.

What does a chipmunk eat?

The chipmunk mainly eats plant foods, only occasionally mixing insects into it. However, this does not mean that the composition of its food is extremely poor - on the contrary, it is very diverse and includes mushrooms, forest and pine nuts, acorns, grass, young shoots of shrubs, tree buds, seeds of wild herbs and conifers.

In general, the chipmunk is a very big gourmet - he loves various berries, cereals, peas, sunflowers, flax, corn, buckwheat. Often the diet is also diversified by what a person carelessly planted near its habitat - it eats apricots, plums, and cucumbers. But the chipmunk preferably chooses grain spikelets and pine nuts as winter reserves.

Chipmunk Hunt

The hunt for chipmunks begins in the spring, when the animal comes out of hibernation and appears on the surface. Its duration is approximately 40...45 days (traditionally up to last numbers May). It coincides with the mating season of the chipmunk, which greatly increases prey. They take a break for the summer, since chipmunks are not hunted during the hot season due to the low quality and low value of the fur. It resumes in the fall, right in September, and lasts until the chipmunk goes into hibernation - that is, until the end of October.

Of the methods of hunting chipmunk in the spring, hunting with a decoy and a loop works best. At this time, they are most responsive to the call, since they are entering the time of searching for a mate. The optimal hours for fishing are midday and morning. But in the fall this method does not justify itself at all, so preference is given to hunting with a dog and a gun. It largely replicates squirrel hunting due to the similarity of the chipmunk to it - both in lifestyle and habits. A husky should be used as a hunting dog. It is best to take cartridges with a half charge - with shot numbers 8-10, since you have to hit them mostly at close range.

Everyone knows the cartoon “Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers” and is moved by its main characters, but you can give a child a great gift by buying real live chipmunks as pets. The chipmunk adapts well to life in captivity; it is unpretentious in both care and food. The only difference from the cartoon characters is that they do not get along well with each other from autumn to spring, and each animal will need an individual cage.

Rodent chipmunk

In natural conditions, chipmunks dig holes in dense areas of soil, for example, under tree roots or thick grass, in order to hide the entrance to their home as much as possible. In the summer, rodents can often be found in tree hollows and running along tree trunks in search of food, like, but with the advent of cold weather they move into underground burrows, where they hibernate.

For comfortable maintenance, you will have to recreate similar conditions. To do this, you will need to buy, but it is much faster and cheaper to make yourself, a spacious cage, which will be larger in height than in width, with many floors, ladders and houses.

Large rodent cage

The height of the cage should not be less than one meter, about the same in width, and about 50 cm in depth. In a word, the animal should not be constrained in its movements, it should constantly run, climb ropes and ropes, and jump across floors. If space allows, install a small squirrel wheel. The chipmunk is a very active rodent, and until it gets used to you, it will rush around the cage in search of shelter, so you should definitely install at least a couple of covered houses. In the future, the functions of the houses will be divided - some will serve as shelter, and others as food storage.

For feeding, use the most ordinary bowls for rodents and an automatic sippy cup installed at the bottom of the cage. It is also better to make the bottom of the cage retractable to make it easier to remove debris that collects there. If you want to bring the conditions closer to the most ideal, then the bottom can be covered sawdust For digging holes, you can use peat. Any synthetic materials and wool should be excluded.

The cage material should only be metal; domestic chipmunks will quickly chew through any plastic or wood. The location of the cage should not be in a draft, direct sunlight, sources of loud noise or bright light. In general, there should be a quiet, calm corner.

Characteristics of a Chipmunk

Most of the chipmunk's characteristics are the same as everyone else's, but there are some differences:

Length – up to 17 cm;
Color – white-orange, 5 longitudinal stripes on the back;
Very curious and energetic, so keeping him out of a cage is not recommended. Jump out onto the balcony or open window will not be difficult;
Daytime lifestyle;
Takes care of the cleanliness of his fur coat on his own. The cage only needs to be cleaned occasionally;
Life expectancy – up to 5 years, in ideal conditions- to 10.

By nature, chipmunks are fairly calm animals. IN summer period in one cage you can contain two or more individuals of either sex, the animals will play and frolic, but with the onset of autumn, when instinct tells you to prepare for hibernation, the rodents become irritable, and it is better to seat them. They get used to a person quite quickly with close contact, for example, feeding them by hand. It is not recommended to pick it up - it can cause a bite. Only over time, after two months, will the animal get so used to you and trust you that it will come to the edge of the cage to beg for a treat. That's when you can open the door and let the chipmunk jump onto your hand. In principle, this is a tame rodent, it just takes time to adapt.

Pet chipmunk

At the same time, you should not keep a chipmunk and small birds in the same apartment, as small rodents hunt them in natural conditions. Children should also only be allowed to cuddle pet chipmunks that you are sure will not bite. Although it is worth noting that they bite not so painfully and deeply, but still there is little desire to try it on yourself.

Once a year, between July and September, animals shed, which can cause allergies. Chipmunks themselves are very clean, and the cage will not have the specific mouse smell that is characteristic of most rodents. But during molting, it is better to be careful and have anti-allergy tablets in your home medicine cabinet.

Buying a rodent

So, having bought or made a piece of paradise for a chipmunk, we go shopping for it. This is quite a rare and exotic animal, so you may need to make a reservation at a pet store. You can also look for advertisements in the newspaper or on Avito, but still the most the best option– search for the nearest nurseries or breeders, and there are very good reasons for this:

Pet stores often bring animals caught in their natural habitat and smuggled in. This one will never become tame, and can bring with it many exotic diseases;
Also, a chipmunk can live in a store for quite a long time, and its psyche may be disturbed (permanent strangers, bad food, constant lighting and noise). This also does not make him more flexible.

When purchasing an animal from breeders, you are guaranteed to receive a breeding animal that is not afraid of people, and if necessary, you can always get advice by phone. When purchasing, the chipmunk must be a baby, it must fit freely in a child’s palm, but at the same time already be independent (6-8 weeks old), as in the photo below. The coat should be shiny, and in general the animal should look healthy.

Little chipmunk

The price for an animal starts from 5,000 rubles.

Note: by the behavior of an animal you can determine whether it is domestic or caught in captivity. It’s strange, but domestic chipmunks designate a certain corner of the cage for the toilet, where they take crushed sawdust or other filler, and only go there. Wild rodents go to the toilet anywhere.

Diet

Chipmunks, like all rodents, love nuts, cereals, and seeds in milky maturity. They will also not refuse to snack on insects, their larvae, and small quantities of vegetables and fruits. They can also attack small animals and birds, but for the most part they are vegetarians.

Chipmunk eats corn

Do not forget to change the water in the sippy cup with fresh water twice a day. The chipmunk is not prone to becoming overweight, as he is constantly in active motion, so you don’t have to be afraid of overfeeding. Fill the feeder in the morning, and during the day the animal will dispose of the gifts itself - it will eat something, and take something back to the house for supplies.

An interesting fact: when harvesting nuts, the chipmunk will never allow a single nut to spoil. This ability of theirs is even depicted in the movie “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” There is even such a trade - they specifically look for chipmunk clutches, since their nuts are more valuable on the market.

At home, you can also feed with tree buds, shoots, berries and mushrooms. Sometimes they even feed them with cottage cheese and plain milk, but this is optional.

It is also worth going to the nearest pet store and buying special food for squirrels and chipmunks. These foods contain enough solid food to grind down the constantly growing incisors.

Offspring of chipmunks

At home, chipmunks hibernation do not fall - the wrong temperature. But if you want to try to breed offspring, then hibernation is necessary. This requires three conditions:

A pair of young mixed-sex chipmunks;
Double cage connected by one closing passage;
Low temperatures, close to zero degrees.

With the onset of autumn, when the animals stock up, you will notice their aggressive mood towards each other. This good sign, the time has come to seat them in their cells, close the passage, and ensure cold temperature. For example, move the cages onto a glazed but unheated balcony. Install a thermometer so that in severe frosts you do not overcool the animals; the temperature should not be lowered below zero. Chipmunks will hide in their holes and sleep until spring; no care is required.

When the temperature rises to 10 degrees, they will wake up and the female will begin to whistle with a characteristic sound reminiscent of gurgling. This is the call of the male, it’s time to open the passage between the cells, to which the male will react very quickly.

Pregnancy lasts about a month, after which tiny chipmunks will appear, there can be up to 12 of them in a litter.

Newborn chipmunk

The female takes all the care; it is better to place the male again. After about a month, the babies will become independent, and by 6 weeks they can be sold. In the ad, indicate that you have parents of babies; it is very important for potential buyers that the animals were bred at home.

But it so happens that they rarely bear offspring; why this is so is unclear. They do not want to reproduce in captivity.

And remember - we are responsible for those we have tamed!

Chipmunk at home, video

The Siberian chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus) is a mammal from the genus Chipmunks, which belongs to the squirrel family. This is the only chipmunk in the world that lives in Eurasia. The fossil remains of this animal are known to paleontologists already from the Late Pleistocene cave deposits of Altai, Sayan and Primorye.

Description

In appearance, the chipmunk is similar to a small squirrel. Although family ties it is close to typical ground-dwellers - ground squirrels and marmots, since its body structure features are quite “arboreal”. So, a chipmunk has a big difference in the length of its hind and front legs, rather large ears, and not so long claws. On the other hand, like gophers, it has cheek pouches for carrying small portions of food.

The body length of the Siberian chipmunk is up to 170 mm, and the tail is 130 mm, since it is always more than half of the body. Thick hair, which cover the bottom of the tail, less distinctly than that of squirrels, are combed on both sides. The fur of these animals is short, with a rather weak awn, and winter fur is practically no different from summer fur. The color of the fur on the upper body is reddish-gray, and five narrow dark stripes alternate with whitish ones. The abdomen is white.

Spreading

The distribution area of chipmunks is very extensive, and covers the taiga zone of Eurasia: from the northeast of the European part of Russia to the Far East (except Kamchatka), Northern Mongolia, the islands of Sakhalin and Hokkaido. A particularly large number of these animals are found in the cedar-deciduous forests of the Primorsky Territory, where in favorable years 200-300 chipmunks can live per 1 km2.

These animals in some places live among larch forests, in others - in spruce-fir forests, thirdly, they are most numerous in cedar trees and even in pine forests. In the southern part of their distribution range, where taiga forests turn into deciduous forests, chipmunks often live in birch forests mixed with other species. These animals live along the edges of forests, river banks, in overgrown burnt areas and clearings, and along the wooded outskirts of agricultural fields.

Life in nature

Chipmunks are animals that are active during the day. They are good at climbing trees, but long time carried out on the ground. These animals live in shallow simple burrows, which serve as shelter for them; they rarely settle in hollows, since this is greatly affected by the prevailing terrestrial lifestyle. If chipmunks settle on screes, they do not dig holes, but make nests in the voids between the stones. Their underground home is of a simple structure, in which there are usually two chambers - a nesting chamber filled with dry grass and leaves, and a pantry in which the animals make their supplies. They also contain small holes, which they use as a latrine. A single passage, up to 3.5 meters long, leads into the hole of these animals, the hole into which is hidden under tree roots and inversions. In the area where the chipmunk lives, he makes several more holes to store supplies for the winter. Summer nests for animals can be hollows in rotten stumps, at the roots, under the trunks of fallen trees, and sometimes even birdhouses.

Siberian chipmunks live alone, each in its own territory. Two animals can never get along in one hole. These animals have a complex sound signaling system. When danger arises, they whistle monosyllables or emit a sharp trill that resembles a bird's.

During the harvest season, animals leave their burrows and wander around in search of food, using temporary shelters in a new place. In Eastern Siberia and the Far East, migration of animals to grain fields during their ripening is observed, and in mountainous regions, local “berry” migrations occur during the ripening of berries.

The main diet of a chipmunk in the wild consists of seeds of various wild and cultivated plants. First of all, these are coniferous (cedar), deciduous (maple, linden, rowan) and herbaceous (sedge and umbrella). In spring and summer, shoots, buds and berries of herbaceous plants (lingonberries and blueberries) are added to it. In the summer, when wheat and buckwheat grains are ripening in agricultural fields, Siberian chipmunks, along with other types of rodents, raid them and, accordingly, cause severe harm national economy. Animals rarely eat found food on the spot, and after filling their cheek bags with it, they quickly run to their shelter, where they then leisurely eat it. These animals can feed not only on plant foods, but also on animal foods such as insects and shellfish.

In August, chipmunks begin an important period of their lives - they begin to prepare food for the winter. The animals carry it, just like regular food, in their cheek pouches, covering distances of more than 1 km with it. Animals store nuts, acorns, grains, dried mushrooms and berries. The total weight of which can be up to 6 kg.

Badgers' winter reserves are easy and desirable prey for many animals inhabiting the taiga. These are sable, wild boar, bear and of course other rodents. When they destroy his warehouse and the chipmunk cannot drive them away, due to the significant difference in size, he is forced to run nearby, desperately chirp and twitch his fluffy tail raised up.

At the end of September - beginning of November, animals fall into a long winter hibernation, which ends in March - April, after spring warming and snowmelt. In the north it can last up to 7 months. During it, all life processes in their body slow down: body temperature drops to 3–8 degrees, and the breathing rate slows down to two breaths per minute. During periods of warming, rodents wake up and feed on previously made supplies, which are stored in the same burrow. During the winter period, as a rule, chipmunks do not eat all the reserves, leaving some of them for the hungry spring. If any animal or person ruins his little animal, then wintering may end in starvation for the animal.

After chipmunks emerge from hibernation, they begin the rut. At this time, females call males with their characteristic “gurgling” whistling. The latter run to the call 200 - 300 meters from the place where she is located. The males have quick fights with each other, rush along the branches and huddle together in balls. At this moment they are defenseless and easy prey. After mating, within 30 days, cubs appear in the female’s burrows. They are born at the end of May - June completely blind and naked. The weight of each of them is 3 – 4 grams. After a few days, babies develop characteristic dark stripes on their backs, and their eyes open only by the 31st day of life. After this, they are ready to leave the hole and, under the strict guidance of the female, make their first familiarization excursions. 2 months after birth, the cubs are separated from their mother and move on to an independent lifestyle, the main concern of which in the future will be collecting supplies for the winter. During the year, the female brings only one litter, in which the number of cubs is on average 4 - 10. They reach sexual maturity only at next year. The life expectancy of chipmunks in the wild is from 2 to 3 years.

The Siberian chipmunk is an accessible and easy-to-hunt animal. Its enemies are almost all predators that inhabit its habitat. It is hunted by all small mustelids - sable, weasel, solongoi, ermine, as well as fox. Often these small animals die from the teeth of bears when they dig out their holes. Of the birds, the animals most affected by buzzards and hawks

Captivity

Chipmunks are one of the most beloved rodents that people keep in apartments. They look very elegant, they are active during the day and sleep at night and are also very clean. This is why many people want to keep one as a pet.

In order to keep this animal in captivity with the greatest possible comfort for it, the cage must be metal, since all wooden parts and objects in it instantly grind down and become unusable. It should be at least 80 cm in height, 40 cm in width and length. It is necessary to install a wheel in it, like a squirrel's, but a little smaller, so that the animal can thus satisfy its need for running and active movements. Without this, his muscles will become flabby, and the animal will become ill with physical inactivity. In addition, the wheel is also an emotional release for them, since in it they can “escape” from the danger that seems to them, which will not lead to overexertion of work nervous system and mental breakdown. In the cage you need to install all kinds of wooden shelves and sticks on which the chipmunk will sit and on which he will grind his teeth.

It is also necessary to have feeders from which the animal will eat and a drinking bowl - a dispenser for the animal’s constant access to water. Do not forget about the house in which the rodent can hide and stock up, as this is the norm of behavior.

Chipmunks are very neat and clean. In his cage, he uses the same corner for the toilet, thereby supporting the “burrow” instinct. As a tray for them, you need to place a soap dish with a double bottom where the animal itself has chosen.

To maintain cleanliness, and therefore the health of your pet, you need to clean the cage as it gets dirty, but wash the animal’s feeders and tray every day, and do a general cleaning once a month.

The chipmunk in nature eats almost everything: seeds, nuts, mushrooms, berries, plant shoots and much more. By his physiology, he is a vegetarian, and only occasionally and then under extreme circumstances, eating shellfish and insects. When feeding an animal at home, you need to create the same varied diet for it as it would receive if living in the wild.

For complete nutrition home care the animal needs to be given dry food (special food for chipmunks) and juicy food (green parts of plants, berries) as a percentage of the total diet of 70 and 30%, respectively. Before giving it to the animal succulent food they must be thoroughly washed in running water and checked for good quality. Fruits should be peeled because the gastrointestinal tract of these animals is very sensitive to chemicals in food (pesticides).

You should also not give almond nuts, as they contain hydrocyanic acid, which is very dangerous for chipmunks. They happily eat all types of nuts, as well as acorns and beech nuts, cereals, sunflower seeds, grains, fruits, berries, dandelions, fresh bark - all this is good and varied food for animals.

Chipmunks have large cheek pouches in which they carry food to their storage areas. They should be inspected periodically to ensure that food accumulated there does not begin to spoil. By the amount of supplies it is easy to determine whether the pet is getting enough food.

During the warm season, chipmunks can be kept in pairs in one cage or in small groups in enclosures. But when hibernation approaches, they need to be seated, since during this period they become aggressive towards their own relatives.

At home, animals do not hibernate, as such, their activity simply decreases, and they rarely leave their house. But after a while they can wake up and show the same activity as in the summer, and then go back to their place for a long time, which can be up to 2 weeks or more. The animal needs such periods to eat and run.

Chipmunks reproduce very poorly in captivity and therefore only experienced breeders or zoologists do this.

Chipmunks tend to be tamed and can be petted. The animal’s ability to store supplies pushes it into forced contact with the person from whom it accepts food. With frequent feeding from the hand, the rodent adapts to the person and ceases to be afraid of him and perceive him as an enemy. Thus, the food instinct displaces fear, and the consolidation of this reaction by a person will allow the animal to be domesticated in the future.

These animals love to walk around the apartment, run through closets and jump on the floor and sofas. In principle, they can be released from the cage, but such walks must take place under the strict control of the owner, since the chipmunk, like any other rodent, tries everything and climbs everywhere. Therefore, when you let him into the room, there should be no things in which the chipmunk could drop himself or fall from them; the presence of wires or open sockets on the floor is also not allowed. poisonous plants and any chemicals. The main thing you need to remember is that this animal is curious by nature and for this reason can suffer and even die from careless handling.

You cannot let your chipmunk out to walk around the apartment all the time, as he can jump out of an open window or door in a second and never return.

When keeping such an animal at home, you should always remember that no matter how tame it is, it always remains wild and can bite at the first opportunity. Therefore, you need to take chipmunks from above, protecting your hands from their strong and strong teeth. We should not forget about the health of the pet. When fixing it or catching it if it has escaped, you should not grab the animal by the tail, especially the tip, because in them, like many other animals, the skin is easily removed from the tail and only its musculoskeletal skeleton remains. After this, it dries out and the animal chews it off on its own, and your pet will forever be deprived of its beautiful and fluffy tail.

Therefore, so that you and your pet receive mutual pleasure from communicating with each other the right conditions content and communication are essential.

Meaning.

The Siberian chipmunk has little commercial value (only its skin is used). For the most part, they are caught during the rut, when they seem to be easily accessible.

These animals are an important food item for fur-bearing taiga predators.

In the taiga zone, the chipmunk is one of the most harmful rodents. It causes great economic losses, destroying crops, destroying grain warehouses, and stealing feed from poultry farms. In the south of Primorye, these animals spoil melons and garden crops in order to get to their seeds.

Chipmunks are natural carriers of at least 8 pathogens of dangerous diseases, such as tick-borne encephalitis, rickettsiosis, toxoplasmosis, etc.

Interesting Facts

1. The chipmunk got its name due to the special sound “burunbu-ryu-burun” that it makes before the rain.
2. The most famous chipmunks remain the cartoon characters Chip and Dale, who were drawn by Walt Disney in the 1940s.
3. The popularity of these animals was also brought to them by the film “Alvin and the Chipmunks” released in 2007. After him more and more more people wanted to have these cute rodents at home.
4. Burudnuks are depicted on the coats of arms of the cities of Volchansk and Krasnoturinsk, which are located in the Svedlovsk region.

Health to you and your pets!

In Latin, the name of chipmunks is written Tamias. Regarding the Russian name, there are two versions of its origin. One of them is borrowing and transformation from the Tatar language, where “chipmunk” is written as “boryndyk”. The second option is an origin from the Mari word uromdok, but there are few adherents of this version.

Chipmunks are widespread in North America, inhabiting almost the entire continent. All existing species live there with the exception of the Asian or Siberian chipmunk, which is found in Eurasia and Russia.

Appearance

Depending on the species, the animals reach a size of 5 to 15 centimeters, the tail can be from 7 to 12 centimeters. Weight varies from 20 to 120 grams. All chipmunks have one thing in common - five stripes, which are located along the back.

The stripes are separated from each other by black or gray lines. The rest of the animal's fur can be red-brown or black-brown. Due to their external similarities, most species of chipmunks are difficult to distinguish from each other. There are 3 in total, but each of them is divided into another 24 subspecies, so only specialists can figure out whether they belong to a particular family.

Where do chipmunks live? Photos, species distribution area

As mentioned above, a large number of animals live in North America. The distribution of chipmunks is so wide that they are found both in central Mexico and in the Arctic Circle. The American chipmunk lives in the eastern part of the North American continent, while 23 subspecies live in the western part.

It is interesting to know where the chipmunk lives, in what zone of Russia. This is the Far East, Magadan region, Sakhalin Island. Rare, but found in Kamchatka. But most of all he liked the cedar and broad-leaved forests of the Primorsky Territory. In good years, the number of animals per 1 square km is 200-300.

In central Europe, there are chipmunks that escaped from farms where they were bred and were able to adapt to the wild. The last species is the small chipmunk, which inhabits Canada.

Habitats

Chipmunks belong to the squirrel family and look like squirrels. However, there is a big difference between the two types. Squirrels prefer to spend a lot of time in trees, while chipmunks live on the ground. Most often they are found in forests, but sometimes they settle in open areas covered with bushes.

The forests where the chipmunk lives, in which zone, depend on the location. For example, in America there are deciduous forests widespread in New England, in Russia there is taiga, and in Canada there are coniferous forests.

Home for rodents

Life of rodents

Chipmunks love warmth and hate rain. This is why they show up in warm weather and frolic when they are warm. The exception is species that live in places with constant rainfall.

At such times, the chipmunks do not move far from the hole. They eat buds on nearby plants or eat up winter reserves. When the sun warms up, rodents pull out damp supplies and put them in the sun to dry. If warm days give way to cold ones again, the animals go into their burrows and wait for real spring.

In summer, when it’s hot, chipmunks come out into the air early enough, but so that the ground warms up. They do their work before the heat of the day sets in, and their second exit is in the evening. In places where the weather is constantly warm and there is no heat or cold, chipmunks can be observed all day long. In autumn, animals crawl out of their burrows after the air warms up. This continues until it gets completely cold.

Offspring

The Siberian chipmunk produces offspring once. The number of newborns is 4-8 individuals. Their relatives from America give birth two times, 3-4 times, to four cubs. Chipmunks become sexually mature in their first year of life. In the wild, the animal's lifespan is 3 years; in captivity, the figure can reach 10 years.

Young chipmunks spend a long time in the nest. When they are old enough, they begin to look for food near the entrance. Gradually they begin to go deeper and further from the hole.

While the cubs are small, the female is not far from the entrance to the hole and, in case of danger, begins to snort in alarm. Then the children quickly run back, squealing in response.

Enemies

Small rodents have a lot of enemies. These are birds of prey, small animals, people and sometimes bears. The latter most often dig up chipmunks' burrows and eat their reserves. When an animal sees an enemy, it begins to squeak anxiously at certain intervals.

Nutrition

Winter supplies

The chipmunk's supplies are quite varied. All types of food that he can get around his hole are used. The supply is maintained throughout the entire waking period.

Nowadays it has become very popular to keep exotic animals at home. One of these is the Asian chipmunk, which became domesticated quite recently, but has already earned the love and warmth of others. Besides the fact that these amazing animals have a charming appearance, it is also very interesting to observe their behavior and life activities. However, chipmunks are quite difficult to tame, so if you decide to get yourself such a pet, you should know all the intricacies of its maintenance, and, believe me, there are many of them.

and features of existence

Chipmunks are rodents that belong to the squirrel family. They live mainly in North America, with the only exceptions being the Siberian or Asian ones, which inhabit China and Europe. For the most part, they live in light forests, in earthen burrows or under trees, but when they feel danger, they can climb a tree. The chipmunk loves solitude, so in captivity it is necessary to provide each animal with its own cage. The Asian chipmunk, a photo of which you can see in this article, lives for about 3 years in the wild, and 5-6 years in captivity, but there have been cases when, with proper care and proper nutrition the animal lived up to 10 years. IN winter time They usually hibernate, but differ from other animals in that they can wake up, replenish their supplies, and then go back to sleep.

Description of the Asian chipmunk

This is a small animal that looks very similar to a small squirrel. It has a rather attractive fur coat and a long fluffy tail. The coat is usually tan or gray in color, with five characteristic black stripes. The body length of the Asian chipmunk is 13-19 cm, the tail length is 8-12 cm with a body weight of approximately 70-110 g. The tail is covered with long and thick hair. The animal has a rough coat. A characteristic feature of the Asian chipmunk is its very cute cheek pouches.

Representatives of this species lead a mainly diurnal lifestyle. These are very graceful, energetic, curious and trusting rodents that even in the wild show interest in people. The chipmunk is a very clean and tidy animal, which, although it brings some trouble, also brings a lot of joy. Also, do not forget that the chipmunk is very curious at home, so it is not recommended to let the rodent out of the cage unattended.

These exotic pets unpretentious to care and maintenance. They differ from other domestic rodents in that they have practically no unpleasant odor, like, for example, tame rats or hamsters. This, of course, makes caring for them much easier. They get used to captivity quite quickly and painlessly. If you decide to get yourself such a pet, then you should create all the necessary conditions for him to feel comfortable and safe.

First you need to purchase a suitable cage. Chipmunks (domestic ones) love to run, so they need a cage of considerable size - approximately 100 × 50 × 60 cm. It should be metal and have many sections. It is also recommended to install a running wheel and a house where the chipmunk will sleep. Be sure to place branches and driftwood in the cage. It is recommended to make bedding from sawdust, but it can also be made from hay or peat. Periodically, the house needs to be cleared of supplies, but you shouldn’t throw everything away at once, as the chipmunk can get very upset.

Subtleties of keeping an animal

It is not recommended to immediately let the chipmunk out of the cage; first the animal must get used to it, and after a couple of weeks you can already train it to walk around the apartment. However, as mentioned a little above, only under careful supervision. Since the animal is active only during the day, it will not bother you at night. Domestic chipmunks do not hibernate; they simply become lethargic and less active during the winter. At this time, the pet should not be disturbed or frightened under any circumstances, as it may become aggressive as a result. We have already mentioned that the Asian chipmunk gets used to humans quite quickly; over time, it begins to take food from hands, so if you want to quickly tame your pet, use food for this.

Asian chipmunk diet

This rodent is unpretentious in food. Chipmunk eats almost all known cereals at home. Of course, most of all they love nuts (almonds should not be given!), cereals, sunflowers and also dairy products: cottage cheese and milk. You also need to remember that the Asian chipmunk is not a completely vegetarian; he also needs to be offered animal food, for example, insects or larvae, but you can replace them with a small amount of raw meat. He will happily eat fresh grass, fruits, berries and vegetables, but you should not feed him citrus fruits often. You should not give your chipmunk plums, as their pits contain a substance that is dangerous for the animal.

There should always be fresh water in the cage. The animal can throw the bowl over, so it is recommended to install a drinking bowl, or preferably several. You need to put a piece of chalk on the chipmunk so that he can gnaw it and grind down his incisors. By the way, now you can buy special dry food at almost any pet store and alternate it with regular food, which diversifies your pet’s diet.

More important things

We must remember that the animal (chipmunk) does not like extreme heat; in the wild, it can only soak up the sun in the spring, when it is still cool. Therefore, you need to create special darkened places in the cage so that the pet can hide if desired. In the spring, it is advisable, even at home, to provide the rodent with the opportunity to bask in the sun. It is also important to know that it is absolutely forbidden to grab a chipmunk by the tail, since the skin here is very thin, so this can lead to injury, as a result of which the tail will have to be amputated. Do not forget that if you do not give your pet solid food, with which he will grind down his incisors, then they can subsequently grow to such an extent that the rodent may even die.

Conclusion

The Asian (or Siberian) chipmunk has been domesticated relatively recently, so you should be wary of its bites. Even when a pet is already accustomed to its owner, it can still bite, which, believe me, is not very pleasant. If you nevertheless decide to get yourself such a pet, then carefully follow all the details described above. If the animal is provided proper diet and optimal living conditions, it will live a long time and will delight you and your family.

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