Who’s Been Eating in My Garden?

What happened in the carrot patch?  Early one morning I noticed that there was a pile of chopped-off tops where rows were previously visible.  Later that day, I spotted the culprit – an Eastern Chipmunk – digging to retrieve the succulent young roots.  In all my years of gardening, I had not seen that particular bit of thievery.

The Chipmunk, a regular visitor to my property, gathers hazelnuts that it frequently shells and eats while sitting on the deck.  It’s a joy to watch as it scurries about, lets out its ‘chip’ sound,  samples buds from a Johnny-jump-up plant, checks the cherry tomatoes, and drinks water from a shallow pan after sliding down the eaves trough.  Before that day of discovery, I had not seen it in the carrot patch.

The name of this smallest member of the squirrel family derives from the Algonquian “Adjidaumo” (pronounced a-chit’-a-mauk) in reference to its habit of descending trees head first.   Though it gathers most of its food by ground foraging, it easily climbs trees and shrubs to harvest berries, nuts and seeds.

Inhabitants of mostly deciduous woods and solitary by nature, each Chipmunk constructs its own burrow tunnel with the entrance camouflaged by a fallen log or tangle of shrubs.  It uses its cheek pouches to carry the excavated earth out and away from the entrance.  During its lifetime (usually about four years) it may have a 40-foot tunnel with several entrances and chambers.

Separate from others, the nesting chamber is insulated with fluffy seed heads and/or grasses, and shredded leaves.  The winter supply of non-perishable foods is stored in an accessory chamber.  The majority of Chipmunks in Canada breed only once, though in the southern U.S. they frequently produce two litters. 

Mating occurs in northern regions during April or May near the burrow of the female who produces a litter of about five young that she rears alone.  By September or October, the adult-sized young retire to their individual burrows.  Not a true hibernator, the Chipmunk enters brief periods of torpor, awakens, eats some food, then sleeps again and repeats the routine until mild weather appears.

When comfortable and assured of its safety, this delightful creature will cautiously venture towards a human and chew on apple cores placed nearby, or accept hand-held peanuts or sunflower seeds. For its entertainment value alone, it earns the small amount of carrots or other treats from the garden.  Additionally, its uneaten, small caches of seeds germinate to become the Chipmunk's contribution to the spread of plants, shrubs, and trees.