The Siberian Chipmunk can be seen for its economic value from the outside to the inside. Its fur can be used to make pens and brushes, its meat can be eaten, and its skin can be used as fur raw materials. Most importantly, the Siberian Chipmunk looks very beautiful. It has a gentle and cute temperament, so many people are willing to keep it as a pet.
Chinese Name: Siberian Chipmunk
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Suborder: Sciuriformes
Family: Sciuridae
Subfamily: Sciurinae
Genus: Tamias
Species: Siberian Chipmunk
Distribution: Eurasian continent
Reproduction: Viviparous
Based on the winter pre-observation in 2006, from October 31, 2007 to March 25, 2008, 8 chipmunks were marked with radio collars and colored plastic collars within a range of 40hm2. Using radio tracking technology and snow tracking technology, a continuous 21-week positioning observation of chipmunk behavior in the Liangshui Nature Reserve was conducted. The study aimed to investigate the response of chipmunks' behavior rhythm, spatial behavior, and re-gathering behavior to low winter temperatures. The results showed that the activity rhythm of chipmunks in winter is unimodal, and the nesting time is significantly delayed as the temperature drops (Kendall τ test; n = 21, r = -0.92, τ = -0.86, P <0.0001), and the duration of activity is shortened (Kendall τ test; n = 21, r = 0.80, τ = 0.68, P <0.0001). The winter home range of chipmunks is approximately elliptical (area 2.46 ± 0.09hm2), with no overlap between individuals. In autumn, chipmunks disperse and store Korean pine seeds throughout their home range, but the re-gathering behavior is relatively concentrated in several main areas (re-gathering area). Based on the location characteristics and utilization rate of nests and re-gathering areas, the home range can be divided into three parts: the main area is located in the middle of the home range, the auxiliary area is close to the Korean pine mother tree forest, and the sub-auxiliary area is located on the side of the home range away from the Korean pine mother tree forest. Stored Korean pine seeds are the only food source for chipmunks in winter. In different stages of winter, chipmunks significantly differ in the utilization rate of different re-gathering areas (early winter, Kruskal-Wallis test; df = 2, x2 = 5.65, P = 0.0594; mid-winter, Kruskal-Wallis test; df = 2, x2 = 14.24, P = 0.0008; late winter, One-Way ANOVA Test, df = 2, 18, F = 7.00, P = 0.0056). The re-gathering areas located in the main area (utilization rate in early winter 37.8 ± 7.7%, utilization rate in mid-winter 80.5 ± 9.2%, utilization rate in late winter 40.5 ± 2.7%) and the auxiliary area (utilization rate in early winter 41.8 ± 5.9%, utilization rate in mid-winter 14.8 ± 9.2%, utilization rate in late winter 37.8 ± 4.9%) are the main re-gathering areas for chipmunks. The phenomenon that the empty rate significantly increases over time (Kruskal-Wallis test; df = 2, x2 = 16.60, P = 0.0002) suggests that chipmunks may rely on spatial memory to retrieve stored food. Rotating the use of multiple nests (6 ± 1) helps reduce the risk of chipmunks being preyed upon by natural enemies. These nests are distributed near the re-gathering areas, and the utilization of nests is significantly correlated with the utilization of re-gathering areas (Kendall τ test; main area: n = 217, r = 0.79, τ = 0.6256, P = 0.0003; auxiliary area: n = 171, r = 0.67, τ = 0.6186, P = 0.0006; sub-auxiliary area: n = 88, r = 0.74, τ = 0.6565, P = 0.0006). Chipmunks usually enter the nearest nest to rest after feeding, which helps them reduce energy loss. The multi-domain concentrated re-gathering and corresponding nest rotation strategy is a comprehensive response of chipmunks to the low winter temperature environment and predation pressure.
It is recommended to raise pet lovers. With regional differences, the fur color also varies. For example, the color of the Liaoning Chipmunk is gray, while the chipmunks in southern China are black. In addition, the fur color is also influenced by the seasons, with gray or grayish-brown fur in winter and black or blackish-brown fur in summer.
1. Too long teeth
Long-term consumption of soft food prevents the teeth from being properly ground, causing them to grow too long. Overgrown teeth can damage the inside of the mouth and affect food intake. It can also lead to gum decay and sinusitis. This will cause the teeth to gradually loosen and fall out. After one side of the teeth falls out, regular trimming surgery is needed for the other side of the teeth due to the lack of normal grinding. Early diagnosis can lead to early treatment.
2. Injuries caused by fights
Chipmunks have a habit of attacking the weaker individuals in the group. A seemingly healthy chipmunk that is already seriously ill will be attacked by the healthy chipmunks. If these attacked and dead chipmunks are dissected, it will be found that they have long been ill. In addition, weak chipmunks are also prone to attacks. When chipmunks are found fighting, each chipmunk should be separated using cages. The injured areas should be treated with antibiotics to prevent wound infection; for larger wounds, surgical sutures should be performed. As there is a possibility of cannibalism, weak chipmunks should be isolated as soon as possible.
3. Pneumonia
Chipmunks are prone to pneumonia when under too much stress, excessive humidity, or poor air circulation. Symptoms include coughing, loss of appetite, listlessness, and eventual death. Human colds can also be transmitted to chipmunks, so special attention should be paid. Treatment can be done with antibiotics.
4. Hypocalcemia
Female chipmunks during pregnancy and after delivery are prone to this disease. It causes symptoms such as spasms, paralysis, and movement disorders due to reduced calcium levels in the blood. If calcium injections are not given in a timely manner, there is a risk of death. Calcium supplements can be added to the diet of pregnant and lactating female chipmunks as a preventive measure. In addition, exposure to sunlight is also important.
5. Rickets
Chipmunks, like humans, can also suffer from rickets. In addition to regularly supplementing with calcium and active vitamin D, exposure to sunlight is essential. Artificial sunlamps can be effective, but improper wavelengths of ultraviolet light can cause serious burns, so it is best to inquire in detail at the hospital before using them.
6. Urinary tract infection
Infection of the urinary tract can cause urinary tract infection. Male chipmunks may have difficulty urinating due to swelling of the penis. The pain caused by urination can lead to vocalizing in distress. If these symptoms are observed, immediate urine testing and appropriate antibiotic treatment should be carried out.
7. Fractures
When chipmunks play indoors, they may suffer fractures from improper jumping. Simple fractures can heal without surgery as long as the instructions of the hospital are followed. Chipmunks do not tolerate anesthesia, so it is best to avoid surgery. However, if the spinal bones are injured, the prognosis may not be good.
Siberian Chipmunks do not have special dietary requirements and food choices can be varied. They love to eat nuts such as walnuts and chestnuts, which can help prevent excessive growth of their teeth.
For pet chipmunks, they mainly eat seeds from the family of Cactaceae, but they also eat a significant amount of insects in the wild, so it is best to feed them some animal-based food as well. If they are mainly fed with commercial feed, they should also be supplemented with fruits like apples. Some fruits and vegetables such as cucumber, tomato, and watermelon can also be fed during summer and autumn.
The feed for chipmunks includes mixed feed, coarse feed, and juicy green feed.
Mixed feed: Typically consists of barley, wheat, corn, soybeans, and bran, with a content of 25% barley or wheat, 20% corn, 15% soybean meal, 10% soybeans, 20% bran, 6% fish meal, 3% bone meal, and 1% salt.
Coarse feed: Mainly includes peanuts, sunflower seeds, and walnuts.
Juicy green feed: Includes cabbage, carrots, rapeseed, mulberry leaves, and holly leaves.
The recommended daily feeding amounts for each chipmunk are approximately: around 30 grams of mixed feed, 200-250 grams of coarse feed, and 150-200 grams of juicy green feed. It is necessary to feed them three times a day, with fixed feeding times each day.
1. The tail hair is long and fluffy, and the limbs and forelimbs are longer, but the forelimbs are shorter than the hind limbs. The ears are well developed and can reach the eyes when folded forward. In winter, there is a clump of black long hairs on the tip of the ears. The back of the whole body, from the tip of the kiss to the base of the tail, and the sides of the body and the outer sides of the limbs are all gray-brown in color, with gray-black hair base and brown or gray hair tips.
2. The abdomen is white from the back of the neck to the base of the tail, and the inner sides of the limbs are also white. The back and belly of the tail are brown-black, with gray hair base and brown-black hair tips. The snout, cheeks, and chin are the same color as the back, but slightly bluish-gray. The ears are black-gray, and the winter coat has a large clump of black hair. There are large individual differences in fur color, including blue-gray, gray, gray-brown, dark gray, and black-brown, etc. With regional differences, the fur color also changes, and the color tends to be gray, while the squirrels in southern China are darker in color.
3. In addition, the fur color is also influenced by the seasons, with winter fur being gray or gray-brown, and summer fur being black or black-brown.
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