A Michigan Chipmunk
Dear
V and L,
When
you go to Michigan soon, I hope you will keep an eye out for the chipmunks. They are just about the cutest
creatures in the whole state. When
my sister and brothers and I were growing up on the Menominee River, we would
sometimes look out the dining room window and watch the chipmunks scampering
around on the ground below. They
were gathering up seeds that had fallen from our mother’s birdfeeder and
carrying them home to their nests.
Chipmunks are pretty noisy little guys. They chirp and squeak and sound like birds. They are not so easy to find, but, if
you watch carefully each day, I’m sure you will see some.
Ottawa Indians
Chipmunks
got their name from the Ottawa Indians who actually called them
“Chitmunks”. Chitmunk means “red
squirrel” in the Ottawa language.
Chipmunks have also been called “chipmincks”, “chipmucks”, “chippers”,
“munks”, “Hackees”, and “timber tigers” (because of their splendid stripes).
.
A Siberian Chipmunk
Chipmunks
don’t live in New Orleans, but they do live in many other parts of the United
States, in Canada, and in China.
The chipmunk in this picture is called a Siberian Chipmunk, and it comes
from the Wisdom Valley in Northern China.
The Entrance to a Chipmunk Burrow
Chipmunks
live by themselves in burrows under the ground. Each chipmunk digs its own personal burrow. This is a picture of the entrance to a
chipmunk’s burrow. Burrows can be
9 or 10 feet long, a lot longer than you or me or your mom or dad. Chipmunks keep their houses very
clean. The chipmunk builds a nest
of leaves and grass in its biggest room
They store their food in smaller rooms, and they put their garbage like
old acorn shells in other
rooms. When winter comes,
chipmunks stay in their burrows all winter long and are sound asleep almost all
the time.
This Chipmunk Has Food in His Mouth
Chipmunks
have big pouches in their cheeks so they can carry their food around with them
and eat whenever they feel hungry.
Like people, chipmunks like to eat lots of different foods. They like seeds the best. They also climb trees to gather nuts
and fruit.
In
the spring and fall when food is scarce, chipmunks eat other kinds of food ….
like WORMS. (Yuk!)
Or
they eat BUGS. (Ick!!)
Or
they even eat LITTLE FROGS.
(Aagghhh!!!)
The Fox is the Chipmunk’s Enemy
Chipmunks
can run very fast, and they have to because they have enemies who would like to
catch them and eat them up. Their
enemies include foxes, weasels, big snakes, hawks, and wild cats. Even when they’re sleeping at night,
chipmunks keep on the alert to watch out for enemies. Our family dogs, whose names were Mike and Micki, used to
chase the chipmunks, but they never were able to catch them.
Baby Chipmunks
Mother
chipmunks have new babies each spring.
Usually she has four or five babies all at once. The babies are teeny-tiny, don’t have
any hair at first, and can’t see anything. But by the time they are eight weeks old, they leave the
nest and go out into the world to live on their own.
Chipmunks
are important to people because they bury their seeds all around in the dirt,
and that helps new trees and shrubs to grow. And people get lots of enjoyment from watching chipmunks in
their yards or in the forest. In
fact, when you go to Michigan there is only thing that will be as cute as the
chipmunks – and that is ….
L and V
Love,
Grandpa
G-mail Comments
-Terry O-S
(7-15): Dear David, I'm still summering in Ocean City NJ
and experiencing certain computer limitations which means I don't see
Letters for George as regularly as before. I caught up recently and it
sounds like a trip to Menominee is going to happen for at least some of your
family. Has Katja recovered sufficiently for it to include the two of you?
I want to heartily endorse your recommendation with regard to chipmunks! I'm
not going to get there this year but am still hopeful for next. If you
go, blow kiss to the Bay for me! (You can extend your own regards to the
river!) Best,Terry
-Phyllis S-S
(7-10): Dear Dave, This blog was just adorable. I
didn't know all this information about chipmunks and found it fascinating. How's Katja? Going to Michigan
looking good? Phyllis
-Donna D
(7-7): david, this is one of your
best ever!! donna
No comments:
Post a Comment