New Critter

Discussion in 'Pets & Critters' started by Tony Page, Jul 23, 2021.

  1. Tony Page

    Tony Page Veteran Member
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    My daughter and I have both had glimpses of chipmunks scurrying around. We've lived on this property for over 40 years I have never seen a chipmunk. The odd thing is when we first moved into this house we had woods behind us and had our fair share of box turtles, ribbon snakes, frogs, and rabbits. Today the woods are gone they've been replaced with a senior citizen complex. We no longer see the wild life, so it's extremely surprising to see Chipmunks.
    I've always enjoyed Chipmunks when I've seen them in parks I even on occasion hand fed them. Can't figure why they would select my property we have three dogs.
     
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  2. Frank Sanoica

    Frank Sanoica Supreme Member
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    @Tony Page

    After moving here to the desert, we were surprised by the number of kinds of wildlife: Quail, bunny rabbits, and Chipmunks! Here is one looking through our screen door, and then lounging outside:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
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  3. Tony Page

    Tony Page Veteran Member
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    They are adorable little critters, we haven't seen any in a few days I'm just wondering if they were passing through.
     
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  4. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    I recall vacationing on Lake Michigan when I was a kid (Muskegon State Park), and the place was overrun with chipmunks. But I don't ever recall seeing them to any extent anywhere else...not our home or woods in Indiana, not our home or woods in northern Virginia, not my home or woods here in the middle of the state.

    I can see a population immediately taking refuge in your yard when their habitat is disturbed by the onset of that senior citizen complex construction, but it sounds like the dust has settled on that.
     
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  5. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    They might be passing through your yard, but apparently Eastern Chipmunks are non-migratory, being a permanent resident as shown below:


    Territory of the Eastern Chipmunk
    [​IMG]

    Territory of the Western Chipmunk
    [​IMG]
     
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    Last edited: Jul 23, 2021
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  6. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
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    I rarely see chipmunks here. In fact, the last one I saw was in Ella's mouth, but that was a few years ago. That one didn't survive, I'm afraid. That might be why I don't see them here. Although Ella no longer goes out on her own, there are homeless cats around.
     
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  7. Teresa Levitt

    Teresa Levitt Veteran Member
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    we moved to southeast Illinois from the north carolina hills...we finally got chipmunks there.. none here....i envy you....we want chipmunks too...
    but we do a a resident owl...."who'd" probably love that too
     
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  8. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    One of the top "chipmunk" search results was Havahart...the critter trap guys. Apparently not everyone loves the cute [destructive] little buggers.
     
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  9. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    I don't understand that map; there are chipmunks all over the western states... Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Texas, etc.
     
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  10. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    Those are Western Chipmunks. The map is for Eastern Chipmunks. Apparently they are difference species.

    Thanks for that. I'll edit my comment to make it clearer.
     
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  11. Tony Page

    Tony Page Veteran Member
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    I would love to have Owls live on my property. I have seen hawks perch here on occasion but nothing steady.
    In my younger years I wanted a Pygmy Owl as a pet. The beautiful and fascinating.
     
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    Last edited: Jul 23, 2021
  12. Tony Page

    Tony Page Veteran Member
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    Do they have one for Bigfoot?
     
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  13. Teresa Levitt

    Teresa Levitt Veteran Member
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    you will...our bird feeders got that going...they are perching there...at your place....plus they are silent and swift ...maybe nocturnal....scouting out nesting or food...wish I could send you owls and you send us a few chipmunks...
     
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  14. Tony Page

    Tony Page Veteran Member
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    Since I've lived here we have experienced some strange visits from animals.
    I found a hamster once in my garage, while working in the garden me and my wife were on our hands and knees playing in the dirt when a domestic baby bunny jumped in her lap.
    A while back I was playing with a movie camera when I saw my wife pulling in the driveway with a her car I started filming me her walking to the front door, behind her was a pigeon following her. The bird followed her right into the house, I fed it some seed I then and put it in my barn it stayed there for three days and then flew off. It had a ban on one of its legs so I guess it belongs to someone maybe it was a homing pigeon.
     
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  15. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    There is nothing like having wildlife approach us of their own free will. It's magical.
     
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