Chip E. on the Stoop

Chip's mom used to watch me working in the yard and during the summer months of 2000 she began coming over to the stoop to gather up the sunflower seeds I left for her.  She must have thought this was a pretty good deal, for in the fall of that year, she began excavating under the back stairs.  (You can never be too close to a food source if you're a chippy).

She disappeared into her den over the winter months, but in early spring, there she was, sitting on the back stoop gazing up at the door.  It wasn't long before I noticed she was becoming heavier and I thought it was all the seeds I was giving her.

Chip E. - Movie Star Pose

In mid-April, she disappeared again for about a month.  When I saw her again in May she was much slimmer, and it may have been my imagination, but she seemed to have a certain glint in her eye.

It was near the end of May, a bright sunny morning, and I was sitting on the stoop having my coffee and watching my friend gather up her seeds.  She disappeared into her den, and as I watched the opening under the stairs, this tiny head appeared.  It looked up at me in wonder.  I can't imagine being such a tiny animal and seeing such a large hairless chipmunk staring at me.  It quickly retreated under the stairs, but in just a matter of seconds, it reappeared.  Again it looked up at me and then vanished.  This happened one more time, and then there were two heads looking up at me.  Again, they disappeared, and then there were three.  Three of the cutest baby chipmunks (the only baby chipmunks) I had ever seen.

Baby Chipmunk

Gradually they moved out of the hole under the stairs and onto the back patio.  What a treat!  A few sunflower seeds had fallen off the stoop and onto the patio.  They knew exactly what to do.  They gathered them up in their tiny cheeks and then scurried back into their den.  

These tiny animals seemed to have no fear of me.  As summer rolled in, they spent many hours on the patio frolicking in the woodpile or playing hide and seek in the rocks surrounding the fish pond.  I often thought their mom purposely left them with me to baby-sit so she could have a little time for herself.  

By now, I had given them all names.  There was Chip E., the friendliest of the three; Mr. Ballsnall, the male; and Zippy, who would later be renamed Grandma.  On the days when they were not in the yard, their mom would take them to the woods for their survival lessons.  And she did a good job for all three lived long and healthy lives.   

Old Mr. Ballsnall

One day, as I went to the fish pond to feed my starving goldfish, I was spied by one of the chipmunks who was in the woods.  All of a sudden I heard a splash, and there was one of the little darlings floundering in the pool.  It was Chip E. deMunk.

I don't know if chipmunks can swim, but they tire easily under stress and the weight of their wet fur.  As I began to scoop her out with both hands, she leapt into the rocks piled around the pool.  When she finally came out she was shaking terribly.  Fortunately, it was a warm, sunny morning, and soon she stopped trembling and began to dry herself off by licking the water off her fur.  She never took her eyes off me.

I stayed with her until her mom and two siblings returned.  Once she saw them she was ready to play again.

The next morning, my husband came in and told me someone had left something on the stoop and he believed it was for me.  When I went out, I found the most perfect acorn I have ever seen.  It was small, baby chipmunk size, and perfectly shaped, the cap removed, and it looked almost polished.  What is so extraordinary about this is there are no oak trees in our yard or in the nearby woods.   Someone would have had to travel a good long distance to have found it.  The other thing is that chipmunks, by nature, don't share their food.  They horde it, guard it, and will do battle with any animal who tries to steal it.  I still have this tiny acorn and it is in very good condition.  I will treasure it always as a gift from another species. 

Chip E. deMunk 

A Pregnant Chip E. Eating Cherries
2001-2005

 Dedicated to Chip E. deMunk by her human friend Jane Roberts..  

This is a true story and I hope you have enjoyed reading about Chip E.  All our chipmunks are very special to us and it is with pleasure that we share their stories with you.

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