The other day, as I stood at my kitchen window looking out to evaluate the day, two chipmunks zipped into place on a brick ledge just outside. The chipmunks circled each other for two seconds and then copulated with lightning speed before rocketing away in opposite directions.
Jeez,
I thought to myself, I have never seen chipmunks diddling before. As I thought about it, I had to admit, I
never really bothered to consider chipmunks as either male or female. They have always been, well, chipmunks. And I call all of them “Chip” when I greet to
them.
A quick tour through my Google
machine gave me answers. Male chipmunks are
bucks and the females are does.
Chipmunks will eat almost
anything and they mostly hibernate through winters, though they may emerge from
time to time. They are very much
solitary creatures, but twice a year, in the spring and in late summer, males
and females will get together briefly to mate.
—Mitchell
Hegman
Photo: Phil
Armitage
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