09/04/2026
We’re shrinking in size with this week's , as we meet the little but mighty eastern chipmunk!
The eastern chipmunk is the only chipmunk found in Maryland. They have reddish-brown fur with one black stripe running down the center of their backs, two black stripes and one white stripe on their sides that run from their necks almost to their tails, and a white underside with white stripes both above and below their eyes. These small creatures range from 8 to 10 inches, including their tails.
Found throughout the eastern United States, eastern chipmunks typically live in areas like deciduous forests, shrublands, and even suburban and urban areas where there is an abundance of cover to protect them from predators. Chipmunks will build a network of underground burrows that go up to 30 feet in length and three feet in depth.
Eastern chipmunks are most active in the morning or late afternoon, and most of their time is spent on the ground foraging for food. Eastern chipmunks are omnivores, meaning they consume both plants and meat. Their diet mainly consists of seeds, nuts, berries, mushrooms, snails, small frogs, and even bird eggs. While foraging for food, chipmunks will stuff food in their cheeks, which can expand up to three times their normal size.
Want to learn more about the eastern chipmunk? Find more information from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources: https://mocoparks.org/4fAEoG5
