A chipmunk gathering food for its winter stockpile in Gebhard Woods State Park, Morris IL. Photo by Peggy Hanna.

This Photo of the Day was donated by a participant in the annual National Wildlife Photo Contest. See more photos or sign up for the 42nd Annual National Wildlife Photo Contest.

On a hike to the top of Mt. Howard at Wallowa Lake in Oregon, Carla Hurlbert and her nephew spotted this chipmunk who appeared to be admiring the view while nibbling on some seeds. Photo by Carla Hurlbert.

Vote For Your Favorite

Check out more wildlife photos like this and vote for your favorites in the National Wildlife Photo Contest! Each week, four top vote-getters move onto the People’s Choice final round.
 

This Photo of the Day was donated by a participant in the annual National Wildlife Photo Contest. See more photos or sign up for the 42nd Annual National Wildlife Photo Contest.

A chipmunk was returning to its burrow with a mouth full of leaves and paused to stare cautiously at the camera before moving on. Photo by Vladimir Mikhaylov.

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This Photo of the Day was donated by a participant in the annual National Wildlife Photo Contest. See more photos or sign up for the 42nd Annual National Wildlife Photo Contest.

A group of young Colorado chipmunk siblings takes an outing in this photo by George Aldridge, an entrant in NWF's annual photo contest.

We’re not here to talk about those chipmunks, though. We’re here to take a look at 10 things you probably don’t know about chipmunks that neither sing nor star in films. Real chipmunks. Ten things.

1. Chipmunks are basically tiny squirrels (1 to 5 ounces) that have adapted to burrowing. Other members of the squirrel family (Sciuridae) include woodchucks, prairie dogs, various ground squirrels and, of course, tree squirrels.
2. North America is home to 21 chipmunk species, according to the Smithsonian Institution.
3. Chipmunks produce one or two litters a year. Young are on their own within eight weeks.
4. Chipmunks prefer forested areas and can climb trees, shrubs and…birdfeeders.
5. They eat various types of seeds as well as fungus, helping to spread the mycorrhizal fungi that live around tree roots and are critical to tree survival. Chipmunks also spread the seeds of trees and other plants.
6. Chipmunks aren’t particularly choosey about what they eat. Along with seeds and fungi they scarf grain, fruit, nuts, insects, worms, bird eggs and even nestling birds and baby mice. They probably don’t hunt for eggs and hatchlings, just eat them when they find them.
7. They might not sing like Alvin and the boys, but wild chipmunks do vocalize. Kenneth Schmidt, a biologist at Texas Tech University who studies eastern chipmunks, recognizes three chipmunk calls, “the chip, the deeper chuck, and the startle call.” The last is an alarm that warns of impending danger. Chipmunks will even make calls in a chorus composed of several of the little rodents—shades of Alvin. Simon and Theodore. Hear how chipmunks sound.
8. 

   An eastern chipmunk in Masschusetts, photographed by Vladimir Mikhaylov, an NWF photo contest entrant, has packed its mouth with leaves for use in lining its nest.

   Ground-nesting veeries and ovenbirds, Schmidt recently discovered, avoid setting up house in areas where they hear chipmunk squeaks, thus reducing the risk that the squirrels will eat the birds’ eggs and young. Chipmunks also listen in on the alarm calls of other species, says Lisa Aschemeier, a biologist at Ohio’s Northwest State Community College. She has found that chipmunks respond to the high-pitched alarm whistles of their relative the woodchuck, sometimes seeking cover after a woodchuck warning. Woodchucks, she says, pay less attention to chipmunk alarms, presumably because, at up to 12 pounds, they are so much bigger and need not fear as many predators as chipmunks do.
9. In autumn, chipmunks gather seeds and other foods for storage as a supply of winter food. Some species keep food in their burrows, which can be more than 10 feet in length.
10. Alvin and the Chipmunks are now 53 years old. Wild chipmunks, on average, live two to three years; captive specimens have lasted eight.

Bonus Item: Chipmunk Hibernation

Chipmunks hibernate in winter, but they don’t sleep all the way through the season. They retreat to their burrows but wake every few days, raise their body temperatures to normal, feed on stored food rather than fat reserves, and urinate and defecate.

When chipmunks are in the deep sleep phase of hibernation, they may be very difficult to arouse. Their heart rate declines from about 350 beats per minute to perhaps 4. Body temperature may drop from 94 degrees F to whatever the temperature of the burrow—as cold as 40 degrees F.

A new study has found that as winter temperature heats up because of global warming, chipmunks in warmed areas become less likely to hibernate in the coldest months. The research indicates that chipmunks that follow normal hibernation procedures enjoy a survival rate through winter of about 87 percent, while those that remain active because of warm winter weather are almost certain to die by spring. The scientist who made this discovery, Craig Frank of Fordham University, fears that this evidence could suggest dire
results for other hibernating species as climate warms.

NOTE: All photos accompanying this blog were donated by entrants of the annual National Wildlife Federation Photo Contest. You can see the 2011 winners in Photo Zone.

Thank goodness for YouTube! (Never thought I’d say that.) We’ve scoured the Internet and found these ten awesome slow-mo videos of wild animals.

1. Hungry Great White Shark

The movie Jaws gave this creature a bad reputation, but in reality Great White Sharks aren’t vicious man-eating beasts. The seal community may have a reason to complain, however. (Note: Definitely wait for the third clip of the shark breaching. It’s the best.)

Click here to view the embedded video.

2. Adorable Chipmunk

New discovery: Cuteness increases as speed decreases. A chipmunk washing his face in slow-motion proves to be utterly compelling video.

(Note: We don’t advocate trying to hold a chipmunk, but this little guy is being held very gently.)

Click here to view the embedded video.

3. Graceful Northern Goshawk

Watch this amazing bird fly through smaller and smaller holes in slow motion. This dexterity helps it dodge tree branches as it cruises through the forest.

Click here to view the embedded video.

4. Blood-Sucking Mosquito

Watch its underbelly swell up and turn red. All I have to say is …  AAAAAH!

Click here to view the embedded video.

5. Magestic Eagle Owl Coming Right At You

This is the video we saw first that inspired this blog post. Pure awesomeness.

Click here to view the embedded video.

6. Hopping Frog

The grainy, academic quality to this video makes it special in an old-school way. Also, don’t you wish you could jump like that?

Click here to view the embedded video.

7. Hunting Cheetah

This is cool, but if you have a weak stomach you might want to press stop before the 1 minute, 20 second mark. Just a warning.

Click here to view the embedded video.

8. Fly-Eating Damsel Fly

This guy accidentally filmed a big bug eating a little bug. I’m just amazed that he noticed!

Click here to view the embedded video.

9. Thirsty Hummingbird

If you watch this video too long, you will definitely fall into a hypnotic state.

Click here to view the embedded video.

10.  Fastest Man Alive

Hey — humans are animals, too! But watching Usain Bolt run this 100-meter dash makes me wonder if he is actually related to a cheetah.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Which one is your favorite? Tell us in the comments, or share videos we’ve missed!