Evening star., 1949-08-24
This and That
By Charles E. TraceweH
"WELBORN ROAD.

Dear Sir:
1.-THE other afternoon as we were sitting
on the porch we saw an interesting sight
We enjoy the wildlife In the yard and among
the various animals we have chipmunk
who is Just next door to being tame. We've
had him around for number Of years.
Each afternoon we put out some seed
for the birds and each time the chipmunk
makes as many as half q dozen trips from
the stand to his hole with his cheeks just
bulging.
after returning from one of these trips
to find no more seed left on the stand he
sets out to hunt some up.
I'VE paid little attention to him for few
minutes until we saw him sitting up and
holding In his front paws and eating Just
as fast as he could something few inches
long and pale green.
I'VE were puzzled for while until we
recognized it as praying mar1tis. We were
certainly amazed to know that he is q car
incident? ''Yours truly, A. B."
The rock squirrel, as it is sometimes called
has varied diet.
It eats acorns, hickory nuts, beach nuts,
various seeds and grains, insects. birds eggs
and young, and many small animals, such
as mice.
It will be realized that the chipmunk is
no novice at handling the praying mantis.
The house cat. too, likes to catch the
mantis. but it seldom eats one, contenting
itself with playing" with it until 1t is dead.
The chipmunk begins storing food In its
den this month, and continues during Sep
tember and October.
Seeds and nuts form the bulk Of this
treasure. As high as half bushel may be
stored In one of the underground chambers.
Occasionally the chipmunk simply digs an
inch or so in the soil and deposits nut,
Just as the squirrel does. This food, how
ever, Is not left there. but Is eaten shortly.
or later taken to the den.
The animal probably eats some Of the food
when it retires for its sleep of Information.
and the rest after it wakes up. There is some
Hibernation or winter sleep lasts from
November to April.
If the chipmunk eats many things, there
also are many things that eat it.
All larger animals catch it when they can.
It is said that badgers and weasels are its
worst enemies.
Probably the worst thing that can be said
about the chipmunk is that it destroys the
young Of some songbirds, even climbing trees
for few feet to get to the nests.
Yet there are SO few chipmunks, COM
paratively speaking. that they would not
seem to Offer much harm to birds. After
all, man is a far greater enemy, with his
guns, motor cars and deadly poisonous
sprays.
The chipmunk likes rocky place best
Along the path leading down to the main
buildings in the National Geological Park
from the Adams Mill road there may be
seen scores Of these beautiful, bright-eyed
little creatures.
The chipmunk is about Q inches long,
including the tail. The body Is trim but
rather on the plump side. The head and
body total only or inches. This makes
1t only about third as large as our gray
squirrel.
The colorful stripes, the bright eyes and
quick. graceful movements make the chip
munk one of the most attractive of all
animals Fortunately for them. hunters re-
gard them as too small to bother with.
The chipmunk has plenty Of brains. This
is particularly shown by the fact that it
leaves no mound Of earth to show the site Of
its entrance, as the prairie dogs and wood
chucks (groundhogs) do
It also approaches its den by many diff
ferent ways, seldom going the same way
twice, and SO never making plain path as
giveaway.
This clever little creature also is canny
in making the entrance to its system Of dens
and connecting chambers. After the drSt
entrance is made. at least two more are dug
out and connected. Now here is the payoff-
when these are finished. the chipmunk closes
up the first one for goodl The other en-
frances, hidden, are left for daily use.
The burrows are about inches in dame
ter, sometimes being or feet long, with
chambers capable Of holding not only the
chipmunk. but several quarts of food as well.
No grasshoppers, or nantes (the proper
pluraD or other perishable food u stored.