I love chipmunks. Really what’s not to love?  To start, they’re part of the squirrel family – so duh I love them. They are ridiculously cute, tiny, furry, have pudgy cheeks, large glossy eyes, striped bums and bushy tails. And as if that’s not enough, they let you love them, pet them, hug them and squeeze them.  Here are my top 11 fascinating facts on why a Chipmunk deserves a place on the cover of my book.

1. Chipmunks are the smallest members of the squirrel family. The smallest species weighs in at 1 ounce and reaches 7inches in length, while the largest can reach 4.4 ounces and 11 inches in length.
2. A Chipmunk’s tail can reach 3 to 5 inches in length. I also find it the easiest way to identify individual chippers. For instant, Zordock’s tail is flat and wiry, Terry’s is long and slim, Stub’s is, well a stub and Veronica’s is like a Geisha’s fan.
3. Fastidious, friendly and forward-thinking – one little chipmunk can gather up to 165 acorns in a day.
4. Chipmunks enjoy fruits, nuts, seeds, mushrooms and worms. I’ve also found them to also love, coffee, potato chips and red wine.
5. Chipmunks live in underground burrows. The entrance tunnel is up to 30 feet in length, leading to several chambers, including a nesting chamber, two food storage chambers, wine cellar and party room.
6. Chipmunk’s front feet have four toes; the back ones have five…which make them particularly good dancers and prancers.
7. Unlike squirrels that have no idea where they hid their nuts, chipmunks will stockpile up to 8 lbs of food to keep their family going throughout the winter.
8. Chipmunk cheeks are made of stretchy skin and can expand to three times the size of its head in order to be able to stuff them with food. Standing peanut stuffing record held by Zordock Lowry – 4 double peanuts in his mouth – 1 held in his paw while scurrying away.
9. A group of chipmunks is referred to as a “scurry”. Male munks are called Bucks, female are called Does and babies are known as Pups, Kits or Kittens.
10. Chipmunks are loners except when they’re lovers. The male will embarrass himself to attract a female by high pitch chirps, croaks and bum wiggling. (sounds familiar)
11. The chipmunk totem means that magic is afoot!  They bring gifts of creativity, honed intuition and trust. They embody the spirit of fearless exploration and play.