A Chance Encounter With a Canadian Chipmunk
Recently I came across a photo of a Canadian chipmunk, supposedly taken in Banff National Park. The little guy looked like he’d survived a long, hard winter and had plenty of stories to tell. It got me thinking about these tiny rodents.
Cute or “Just Rats With Better PR”?
I’m firmly in the “chipmunks are cute” camp. I know plenty of people who insist they’re just rats in better outfits and would be happy to see them gone. But to me, chipmunks — along with their cousins the squirrels, prairie dogs, and other assorted rodents — add a spark of life to an ordinary day.
Banner and Balboa would absolutely agree. They spend hours at the window watching chipmunks sprint, freeze, and zig‑zag around the yard. Of course, being cats, I’m sure they’re imagining a lively snack if they ever managed to get outside.
Western Chipmunks: A Different Look Out West
When I was in Wyoming, I spent a whole morning watching a pair of Western chipmunks. Naturally, I took a few photos — who could resist? They blended beautifully into the rocks and sagebrush, and they were definitely different from the chipmunks here in the East. Their colors felt more muted, more desert‑washed, like the landscape had rubbed off on them.
Lunch Buddies in the East
Back home, I like to see if I can coax the local chipmunks a little closer. I’ve shared my lunch with more than one — tossing out a French fry and watching the ritual unfold. They dart out, pause dramatically, then stuff the fry into their cheek pouches before sprinting back to safety. And then, of course, they’re right back again. They’re this perfect mix of bold and shy, and I find them absolutely adorable.
Clowns of the Forest and Field
I once heard someone say that squirrels are just rats with fluffy tails and better PR. Chipmunks, though technically squirrels, feel more like comedians. If puffins are the clowns of the sea, then chipmunks must be the clowns of the forest and field.
North America’s Chipmunk Jackpot
Here’s a fun fact: of the 25 chipmunk species in the world, all but one live in North America. One lone species lives in Asia. Clearly, we hit the jackpot.
So Where Do You Stand?
Love ’em or hate ’em, chipmunks definitely make an impression. So where do you fall on the chipmunk spectrum — adorable woodland clown or tiny striped menace?
Chipmunks are both. They are fun to watch and can bring a chuckle or two. However as a home owner they can cause problems. They are destructive and have caused damage to foundations and my plants. I remember years ago I was walking to the door, In the summer time, and there was a chipmunk climbing up on my screen on the door. I told me to get down and he did. He use to climb up your leg to get your attention he was pistol, but a pain at the same time. However now I see we have a Wessel, that love Chipmunks., as a new neighbor, so they better be careful or they will be dinner.
I thought I’d find you in my camp of this one. Some of the photos in this post were taken at your house. 🙂
You say you have a wessel, did you mean weasel? A weasel is basically a tiny, elongated cat with a mission — long body, short legs, and the confidence of a creature that knows it can fit anywhere it shouldn’t.
Hmm I have to be careful what I say. I could be decribing Balboa LOL
It is a little long cute predator that feeds on bugs, and chippie’s. I saw him one afternoon with a dead chippy in it’s mouth. Dave was here at the time. It kept dropping chippy because it was kinda big for him. long story short, when he finally decided we were not going to hurt him, he went under the deck and took his prize across the road to the neighbors. I spoke to my neighbor the next day and he said he knew the the weasel was around and lives in their back yard. I told one chippy the next morning he had best becarefull because I had a new neighbor that I would like to introduce him to. LOL
I thought the chipmunk on the blue dish looked just like my dish .
Ah Poor Chippy but I guess that’s just the balance of nature. You have a regualr wild kingdom out there. Yes that blue dish was on your porch. I got that picture the same day I got the hummingbird picture