Chipmunks

CHIPPIES! They are adorable, aren't they? You never see them listed in any "pest" columns. They delight children and are friendly, even coming to your hand for handouts. Seeing their little tails straight up in the air as they run from spot to spot endears them even more.
I received a WILDLIFE REPORT FROM N.H. FISH AND GAME - FEBRUARY 28, 2006 which had an article about them, which I thought was fun. So, I'll share it with you here, as well as a link to another great article about them and a few books.

"CHEEKY CHIPMUNKS OUT AND ABOUT

Any day now you may catch a glimpse of an Eastern chipmunk scampering along a rock wall or hear its endless, bird-like "chip-chip-chip" warning call. After spending several months underground, chippies are transitioning back to the active life. Though a true hibernator, chipmunks don't have large fat reserves, so they awaken every three to four days to nibble on the stores of nuts and seeds stored in their nesting burrow during the fall. By now, these supplies are running low, so warming days bring chipmunks out of their burrows in search of food.

Less than six inches long (not counting the tail), chipmunks are easy to spot by the stripes on their back and sides. These little fellows are fast - they can zip along at up to 15 feet per second for short distances - which helps them stay out of the clutches of hawks and foxes. You'll most often see them on the ground, but you should look up in the branches, too, as they are agile climbers. Females give birth to a litter of 3 to 5 young in May, and may have another litter in August-September. These members of the squirrel family live about three years in the wild. Keep an eye out for these cheery noisemakers - a sure sign that spring is on the way."