Fun Animals News: Chipmunks

Chipmunks were put on the spotlight in Alvin and the Chipmunks, the 2007 live-action/CGI movie which brought newer dimension into the original Alvin and the Chipmunks which first came out in 1958 in a novelty record created by Ross Bagdasarian.

Staying true to its musical-inspired roots, the movie had garnered five Grammys, along with a Golden Reel Award and American Music Award.

It has also become an entertainment franchise on its own, with a line of followers, sequels and spin-offs, with more and more people entertaining the thought of keeping Chipmunks as pets in homes and households.

As pets, chipmunks are quite furry and cute, and having them around isn’t all that challenging, though they aren’t really all that known for their vocal chouses and barbershop-group singing.

One thing prospective chipmunk pet owners should know is that chipmunks are different from squirrels. Generally, squirrels are bigger compared to chipmunks, while chipmunks have stripes on their faces. Before getting a particular “chipmunk”, pay close attention to these physical differences. You might end up getting a squirrel instead of a chipmunk.

As a species, chipmunks are predominantly found in North America, with one species found in the Northern areas in Asia. There are 25 known species, and one thing not often known about them is that they can live up to eight years in captivity. In the wild, the average chipmunk lifespan is only three years.

In terms of enclosures, cages or pens for chipmunks should ideally be large, given that they are highly active creatures. Keeping them clean isn’t really all that a problem, and a chipmunk enclosure should have a means for them to “burrow” or “hide” in since they are also hibernating creatures.

In terms of feeding, chipmunks love nuts, of different shapes and sizes, though sunflower seeds (too much of them, anyway) tends to be a cause for dietary problems.

All in all, the challenges in keeping a chipmunk as a pet isn’t all that high, and having them around could lead to hours of fun, what with their silly antics and activities.

Chipmunks Pictures