Chipmunk alert!

Chipmunks have emerged from their dens this week. I was reading a post from naturalist/author Mary Holland who said that "Eastern Chipmunks breed twice a year, in March and in June. If you’ve seen a chipmunk this spring, chances are it was a male, as males emerge several weeks before females. When they first come above ground, males check out female territories. When females appear they soon come into estrus, which lasts for roughly a week. However, they are only receptive to males for about a seven-hour period during this week."
Holland, Mary. “Eastern Chipmunk.” Naturally Curious  Https://naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com/category/eastern-Chipmunk-2/, 9 Mar. 2020

I found this interesting tidbit on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website: "The young are born naked, blind and completely helpless, but grow and develop quickly. By the eighth day of life, their stripes begin to appear. After one month, their eyes open and they have become completely covered with fur. At six-weeks old, they are weaned and leave the burrow for the first time.
The full-grown chipmunks leave their parents den at eight weeks of age. Both the male and female chipmunks reach sexual maturity by the time they are one-year old. Chipmunks can live up to two years in the wild and have been known to live up to eight years in captivity."
“Eastern Chipmunk.” Https://vtfishandwildlife.com/learn-More/vermont-Critters/mammals/eastern-Chipmunk.

After a 31 day gestation period, females give birth to 4 to 5 pups. So, be on the lookout for adult chipsters now, and baby chipsters in late June / early July!