The birds and critters must have been listening to the weather forecast since there were lots of birds pigging out at the feeders, even the cardinal (which some say brings the snow). And the chipmunk came out of hibernation to stuff its cheeks full of seed to carry off to its den. After the fourth trip, I went out to the feeder and the chipmunk just sat there waiting for me to leave so it could continue stealing my seed.

Seed Bandit

I thought I heard a chipmunk scampering by the retaining wall and that is the only place he could stand up to see above the snow line. Everywhere else he would need very tall stilts since the snow is still rather deep even with a couple of melting days.

Chipmunk Needing Stilts

The colder weather sure can be felt and it is making my cat unhappy, not because it is too cold for him, but because the chipmunks are not out playing for him to try to be the big hunter.

A chipmunk can gather up to 165 acorns in a day and I saw one that had three acorns stuffed in its cheeks. The chipmunk’s den contains at least two chambers, one with a cozy leaf-lined nest and the other used as a storage pantry for the chipmunk’s favorite foods, including nuts and seeds (the seeds from my bird feeder).

Chipmunks hibernate, but instead of storing fat, they periodically dip into their cache of nuts and seeds throughout the winter.

Chipmunk Hanging Out

The critters must have heard the forecast of the freezing temperatures tonight since they were stocking up on food but the chipmunks seemed to eating more than storing for the winter like the squirrels were. But the chipmunk had to settle for an acorn since the little red squirrel has claimed all the bitternuts.

Hungry Chipmunk

Since this week started out as a critter week, I might as well continue with that theme. Besides the squirrels fighting over the bitternuts yesterday, which I could hear inside, the chipmunks are making a lot of noise and busy eating acorns. Apparently the young have surfaced as my population has really increased the last week. This chipmunk has a big pile of acorn shells on this stump where he has been eating.

Cute Chipmunk