chipmunks

Small burrowing squirrels

Chipmunks is the plural of chipmunk, a small striped rodent of the squirrel family found mainly in North America.

They have characteristic stripes along their backs and cheeks that expand to store food: Chipmunks were raiding the bird feeder.

The animated Chipmunks—Alvin, Simon, and Theodore—have been pop culture fixtures since the 1950s.

wildlife

squirrels

Bushy-tailed nut gatherers

cheek pouches · foraging · woodland · hibernation · nuts · seeds · striped · tail · scurrying · nesting

behavior

hoarding

Excessive accumulation of goods

climbing · darting · alert · territorial · solitary · grooming · sunbathing · chirping · vigilant · curious

popculture

Alvin

Small striped rodent

  • SimonMasculine given name
  • TheodoreMasculine name, Greek origin
  • cartoonAnimated or humorous illustration

singing · Christmas · squeaky · voices · animated · Dave · Seville · movies · Brittany · songs

garden

digging

Removing earth below

  • pestsBothersome insects or animals
  • bulbsUnderground plant storage
  • birdseedFood for wild fliers

feeders · tunnels · damage · deterrent · plants · holes · lawn · repellent · traps · nibbling

Categories
Opposites
ground vs. arboreal rodents

chipmunksgray squirrels

Nut-caching arboreal rodents

red squirrels · flying squirrels · grey squirrels

small prey vs. predators

chipmunkshawks

Keen-eyed birds of prey

owls · foxes · weasels · raptors · snakes

size among rodents

chipmunkscapybaras

Largest living rodent species

beavers · porcupines · marmots · groundhogs · nutria

Phrases
Family

chipmunk, chipmunking

Familiarity
Top 20,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G