Chipmunks have been quiet this Spring, but Rosemary says there's no need for concern.
Chipmunk populations go through ebbs and flows as they have this year. (Courtesy Erick Gallun)
Chipmunks are one of those animals that people seem to either love or hate. This may come as a shock to those of you who think they are really cute (which they are) but many folks, especially gardeners, dislike them. So when people were calling us up in the spring wondering where all the chipmunks had gone, you could tell from their concern that they fell into the “cute camp.” I had noticed a decided lack of the be-striped little beasties as well. However, as one who often rails against these rodents eating half of every perfect peach we grow, I was only mildly concerned.
That’s because I know that chipmunks, being rodents, are very good at replacing themselves. A combination of a poor acorn crop last fall and a very long winter did put a definite dent in their numbers. But they won’t be gone for long. Many wild creatures experience natural cycles of population booms and busts. Besides giving my fruit trees a respite, many ground-nesting birds will also catch a break from having fewer chipmunks around.
Yep, there’s nothing cute about the real impact chipmunks have as predators of bird eggs and nestlings. And studies have shown that when acorn crops are high one fall, it often reduces the success of ground-nesting birds the following summer. I’d love to see a study on the impact of year-round bird-feeders as well, after all they probably keep chipmunk numbers artificially high.
To be fair, I should say something nice about chipmunks. OK: it is true that these furry varmints do play an important role in our local ecosystem — as food for many owls, hawks and other predators!
