Eastern Chipmunk

Here's an Eastern Chipmunk I met last month.

Some people have reported an absence of chipmunks/squirrels this year. They may be reacting to an excess of these rodents the previous year. The autumn of 2019 was a mast year for oaks/acorns, which probably led to an exceptional number of these rodents (plus Blue Jays, Wild Turkeys, etc) surviving that winter and the following spring. This year was probably a much tougher year for acorn-eating species, so a drop in numbers can be expected.

This little guy did survive, and appears to have found something to eat as I was taking the photograph.

May 11, 2021 at Lord Stirling Park
Photo 132036898, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)


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