What is the habitat range of a chipmunk?

What time of year do they breed? Is there much competition amongst males? Do they have a courtship ritual? Do they form family units or stay solo after breeding? Can they be kept as pets?What is the habitat range of a chipmunk?
Unfortunately, your questions cannot be answered specifically without knowing what species of chipmunk you are interested in.





There are over 20 species of chipmunk - and the answers for each question can vary per species. I will try to give general answers, but please understand that the answers may not be correct for ALL species of chipmunk.





The habitat range varies for each specific species. The majority of chipmunks live in western North America, with one species in eastern North America and one species in Asia. The most commonly distributed chipmunk is the Least Chipmunk ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Least_Chipm鈥?/a> )


whose range extends across the western and northcentral U.S. up to the Yukon. Chipmunks are usually found more in forested areas than in open plains, although they can be found in some open meadows, fields, and plains bordering foothills.





Generally, chipmuks breed once a year,although some species like the Eastern chipmunk ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Chi鈥?/a> ) breed twice a year. They do not form monogamous pairs, and every year males do compete heavily for females. Chipmunks generally are solitary animals and defend a small territory around their burrows (which can be up to 30 feet long).





There are some people who keep chipmunks as pets ( http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/la鈥?/a> ), though I don't recommend it. Unless chipmunks are tamed during weaning - they will not want to be handled and will bite readily. Most ';pet store'; chipmunks are not tame.





Chipmunks also are burrowing animals, and the set-up needed to provide a happy home for a pet would be far more elaborate than the set-up required for other rodents.





Many places have laws against owning certain types of animals, and chipmunks could be on the list. You would need to check your local city and county/state laws to see if it was legal to have a chipmunk as a pet in your area.





You might consider looking into rats as pets, instead. They are just as energetic, athletic, and intelligent, and they are highly social and known for forming loyal ';bonds'; with their caretakers and cagemates. They are much easier to care for than chipmunks and rarely bite.





http://www.ratz.co.uk/petrat.html


http://www.quite.co.uk/rats/