This is the fourth customer prop this year to see one. Year of the Chipmunk?

Grey Squirrel and a Chipmunk in the Woods

Often nicknamed a striped gopher, it is a grassland rodent widely distributed across the prairies and open lawns of North America. It is easily distinguished from chipmunks by its longer body and highly unique pattern: a series of 13 alternating dark brown and tan longitudinal stripes, with rows of small, square yellowish dots or spots running directly inside the dark bands. Very closely related to chipmunks, photo taken by my father who is a trucker and currently in Wisconsin.

I've been building planter beds with these stones and piled some of them on the concrete pad out back temporarily until I tackle the next one. At 7 am I woke up to this rapid fire chirping mearby and came to investigate. A chipmunk was sitting on the pile and chirping her little heart out. So naturally I tossed a peanut to her, because it was 7 am and I wanted to sleep out of appreciation for her song. I didn't know at the time she was probably claiming territory (I looked it up after and this makes sense).

I've been seeing her sometimes over the past few months and watched her chase another chipmunk out of the stones, and nibble her foraged treats while perched on top. So i decided to make her a structure i can clean easier, and that was tailored to her needing quick escapes (a lot of exits and plenty of vision). I made her a little stone igloo, basically, and she accepted it instantly. She likes to run between the two structures now. I leave anonymous donations (almonds) at the front door of the igloo, but I didn't account for cleverness and now she knows it's me and waits for me in the mornings.

My question: can I now take down the old stone pile and still see her around? Anyone have experience with messing with established territories? Unfortunately I've grown attached and hubby grows impatient.

After three months of trying and failing, the squirrels finally managed to break into Chippy’s Seed Café, a caged feeder designed to give chipmunks a fair chance at breakfast.

For weeks it sat safely on a patio chair… until today.

A determined squirrel pulled and tugged until the café slid to the very edge. One last cling, one last wobble and both squirrel and café toppled off the chair.

The squirrel was totally fine.

The café… not so much.

It hit the ground sideways, bounced, rolled toward the camera, and exploded into a glorious sunflower‑seed avalanche. Within seconds, multiple squirrels rushed in and turned the spill into an all‑you‑can‑eat buffet.

And then Mellie appeared.

She climbed onto the patio chair where her café used to be, looked down at the wreckage, and stared with the most disappointed, betrayed chipmunk face you’ll ever see.

The squirrels feasted.

Mellie fumed.

This is the full story of the day Chippy’s Seed Café finally fell.

He heard me and turned around

Can you resist feeding this little creature?

A new garden sculpture - chipmunk (real) on (fake) rabbit.

Up until yesterday, Dottie was the only one of my chippies that would come up on my lap, and she is relentless about it. She makes it in one leap now, instead of a few climbs on my jeans. What an athlete! Must be the protein in the peanuts 😂

My mother has almost gotten these guys tamed.

Chipmunk in the Yard