Evening star., 1945-04-18
This and That
By Charles E. TrdceUeU.

Dear Sir:
What do chipmunks eat-nuts and
grains, like their squirrel cousins?
Il discovered where the little fellow
lives when I saw him carrying a piece
of bread to his home.
He darted in an opening between
bricks and concrete at the bottom of the
back porch steps. Every day since, I've
been putting out bread and peanut
hearts for him.
For long time a squirrel used to
come around every day, and he got so
he'd take peanuts from my hand.
do you suppose I can tame this
chipmunk? He'll sit up on his launches
and remain motionless for long periods
while watch him.
The brown thrashers arrived q few
days ago. Yours truly, D. c."
The chipmunk is sometimes called the
rock squirrel.
Its fondness for rocky terrain is well
known to every one who has walked
down the Adams Mill road into the
National Geological Park.
There these bright eyed fellows frisk
and frolic.
Such rock work fascinates them.
The den, however, is in earth, and
very cleverly concealed, although it is
preferably placed where it is close to or
even among rocks.
The den has many entrances, and very
complicated burrows and runways, for
this is clever beastie, despite his small
size.
He never throws up any earth around
the entrance, nor approaches it directly,
but comes at it by multitude of long
leaps, first going in one direction and
then in another, so that any possible
purSuer will be thrown off the track
His worst enemy is not man, because
he Is too small and too quick either to
catch with the hand or hit with rife
His worst enemies are animals, notably
the weasel. which is always on the look
out for a chipmunk for dinner, and
can 60 anywhere the latter can.
The chipmunk's diet is varied Nuts,
seeds and grains are the standard foods,
and those which are stored in the erea-
lures storehouse in its den and runs.
1t also eats insects, mice, birds and
birds eggs This latter taste is bad
one, from the standpoint of man.
Scientists tell us that If the chipmunk
were not killed off by natural enemies
it would be real scourge to nesting
birds, especially those which nest low,
as many do, including the cardinal, cat
bird, robin and bluebird, to name but
four.
Chipmunks do not climb trees, but are
able to get up high enough to catch
the babies in low nests especially those
placed in shrubs, favorite position for
many species.
Chipmunks store as much as bushel
or more of nuts These are taken to the
nest in the pouches in the cheeks.
Some nuts, too, are buried slightly
below the surface of the earth, as gray
squirrels bury them.
1t Is believed that the alternating
cnipmunk eats some Of this food while
he is in the den. He does not seem to
fatten himself up, particularly, before
he goes into his long sleep, and when
he comes out he is in fine condition.
Tanning one of these lively beasts
would be an accomplishment, to be
achieved only by person with determi-
nation and real flair for such work.
Perhaps the best way would be to trap
chlpmunk, and then take it indoors
for while, where it could be fed and
petted daily for a time. This should
not be done, of course, during the mat
ing season. which is from April through
June. Certainly no chipmunk should
be kept permanently indoors. This
fairylike creature was born in the out
doors and should die there. A chip
munk in captivity would shame even a
Hitler.