There are two species of chipmunks in this area

By Al Lowe
Contributor

Surely everyone knows these friendly little squirrels with their stripped backs and winning ways.
There are actually two species of chipmunk in Northwestern Ontario. The Eastern Chipmunk (Tamia striatus) and the Least Chipmunk (Eutamias minimus).
The Eastern is much larger and moves with much more deliberation than the Least. The Least one seems to be in a perpetual state of nerves, whether he is gathering food or just going from A to B. He does everything with a frenzied burst of speed usually accompanied by a lot of chatter.
Both species dig burrows. A fully developed chipmunk burrow will have several entrances, none of them obvious - a crevice between rocks, a tiny hole under a stump, etc. There is never any tell-tale mound of earth, either. All the earth from these excavations is carefully removed via a 'work-hole' and scattered under a bush, or in some other unobstructed place. The burrow will contain some sleeping chambers, several food storage chambers, and a place for garbage disposal. Each individual has his or her own burrow. The sexes do not remain together at all after the breeding season.
We always see chipmunks looking for food. They are tireless in their searching and carrying of food for the winter. Nuts, grain, grass seed, fruit pits are all considered to be good stuff, and a single chipmunk may store up to half a bushel of these things.
The chipmunk's carrying bags are his cheeks. Sometimes our little friend will stuff his cheeks so full that he can hardly walk. Give him an extra long peanut some day, and watch his antics as he tries to get that into his mouth.
Chipmunks hibernate (sort of) during the winter. Apparently they come to at times and partake of some of their stored food. Their state of hibernation is not as intense as that of the Black Bear. They do not put on a layer of fat and become like zombies for the whole time.
Every predator of any size eats chipmunks - hawks, owls, snakes, weasels, coyotes, foxes and so on. The chipmunk's only defence is to duck into that burrow. The only enemy which can follow him in there is the weasel, and to get away from him, the chipmunk will take to the tall trees. Even there, the relentless weasel often gets his dinner.
There are at least a dozen other chipmunks besides these two, but most of them live in the far west, quite a few in the California area. A couple range up as far as B.C. All are quite similar looking.
If you have a lake cabin, or a house where chipmunks are handy, start by putting out a few peanuts. Once that chipmunk finds that this is a fairly steady supply, he will be there every day. Within a surprisingly short time, he will be literally eating our of your hand.
You will find him a really delightful scrounger.