Everything You Need to Know About Chipmunks in Maine

The Eastern Chipmunk is a common mammal that can be seen in and around Maine, and really, the more you know, the better!

There are so many little critters kicking around our Pine Tree State that sometimes we forget to stop and actually think about them. Take the chipmunk, for example—so common and familiar that they’re almost like oxygen: always around, but rarely noticed.

So, with that in mind, before we dive into what we know (and what you need to know) about our Maine chipmunks, where is this information coming from?

The information we now know about these little critters is actually featured on Maine.gov, thanks to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and their ‘Species Spotlights’ section on the Eastern Chipmunk. This section is part of a broader effort that highlights a variety of Maine wildlife, from small mammals like chipmunks, to fur-bearers like raccoons and muskrats, all the way up to large mammals like black bears and moose.

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Okay, now that we’ve covered that, what do we need to know about chipmunks in Maine, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife?

According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Eastern Chipmunk is highlighted through five main categories: Habitat, Diet, Distinctive Characteristics, Nocturnal/Diurnal, and Reproduction & Family Structure.

These small mammals live in open deciduous woodlands, often using natural cover like logs and stumps, and although they can climb trees, they mostly forage on the ground.

The diet of an Eastern Chipmunk includes nuts, berries, mushrooms, insects, and occasionally bird eggs or nestlings.

Easily recognized by their striped brown fur and loud chipping sounds, they’re part of the squirrel family.

Eastern Chipmunks are active during the warmer months, hibernate underground in winter, and typically raise two litters of pups each year—once in spring and again in midsummer.

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And there you have it! According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, these little creatures are pretty common across our state.

What are your thoughts on this info about the Eastern Chipmunk? Did you learn something new, or was this all stuff you already knew? We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to join the conversation by messaging us on the app.

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