Gathering nuts with some help from a friend!
Physiological effects
-Respiratory Change: 60 breaths/min --> 20 breaths/min
-Body Temperature: 37° C --> 5° C
-Heart Rate: 350 beats/min --> 15 beats/min
Habitat: Chipmunks are ground burrowing animals that will dig extensive burrows and tunnels with chambers for food storage, nesting and sleeping. Chipmunks that live farther North usually go into hibernation around late October and reappear in the middle of March. While those that live in the southern part of North America where the weather is warmer tend to hibernate in December to late January. This further suggests that hibernation is an adaptation to the survival of extreme cold temperatures.
Mating: Eastern chipmunks bi-annually in the spring and again in the summer. Their gestation period is about 30-32 days.
Diet: Chipmunks are omnivores and will eat insects in addition to nuts, seeds and fruits. During hibernation, chipmunks will awaken several times to eat. To awaken, chipmunks will slightly shake themselves to raise their body temperatures.
Interesting facts:
-Respiratory Change: 60 breaths/min --> 20 breaths/min
-Body Temperature: 37° C --> 5° C
-Heart Rate: 350 beats/min --> 15 beats/min
Habitat: Chipmunks are ground burrowing animals that will dig extensive burrows and tunnels with chambers for food storage, nesting and sleeping. Chipmunks that live farther North usually go into hibernation around late October and reappear in the middle of March. While those that live in the southern part of North America where the weather is warmer tend to hibernate in December to late January. This further suggests that hibernation is an adaptation to the survival of extreme cold temperatures.
Mating: Eastern chipmunks bi-annually in the spring and again in the summer. Their gestation period is about 30-32 days.
Diet: Chipmunks are omnivores and will eat insects in addition to nuts, seeds and fruits. During hibernation, chipmunks will awaken several times to eat. To awaken, chipmunks will slightly shake themselves to raise their body temperatures.
Interesting facts:
- Scientists are still not completely certain what triggers hibernation. Recently, they have discovered that animals that hibernate have a hibernation inducement trigger in their blood that allows them to detect changes in temperature and scarcity in food. However, how and why hibernation occurs in some animals and not others is still a mystery.