# Eastern Chipmunk

*Tamias striatus*

Their cheek pouches can stretch to the size of their entire head, allowing them to carry multiple large acorns at once.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Rodentia › Sciuridae › Tamias
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** forest
- **Habitat:** Deciduous and mixed forests, woodlands, suburban gardens, and rocky brushlands.
- **Diet:** Omnivorous, feeding on seeds, nuts, acorns, berries, mushrooms, insects, and occasionally small birds' eggs.
- **Range:** Eastern United States, Southeastern Canada
- **Size:** 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 inches) in length, weighing 75 to 150 grams
- **Lifespan:** 2 to 3 years in the wild
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Predation by domestic cats, habitat fragmentation, and vehicle collisions in suburban areas.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless and delightful to observe from a distance of 5 to 10 feet. Avoid trying to touch or hand-feed them, as they may bite defensively if cornered. If bitten, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water and consult a medical professional to rule out infection.

## About

The eastern chipmunk ( Tamias striatus ) is a chipmunk species found in eastern North America. It is the only living member of the chipmunk subgenus Tamias , sometimes recognised as a separate genus. The name "chipmunk" comes from the Ottawa word ajidamoonh or the Ojibwe word ajidamoo , which translates literally as "one who descends trees headlong."

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/ef2cf06c-346a-4c01-b947-510001396841
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/46217
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamias striatus
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/38746959/medium.jpg (Cephas, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.