WINSTON WEEKLY

November 8, 2026

Vol. 4, No. 45

GREAT GATHERERS[1]

Chipmunks, the smallest members of the squirrel family, are great gatherers who often hoard more food than they eat. With cheeks expanding to three times the size of their head, they may gather more than 160 acorns a day. Although they hibernate, they do not sleep through the winter like bears, instead waking occasionally to munch on their stockpile. During hibernation in their deep burrows, their 350 breaths per minute decline to four, with their body temperature dropping as much as fifty degrees.

Females typically have two litters annually. A mere three grams at birth, chipmunks are born blind and hairless, often arriving in litters of three to five. Adults weigh between one and five ounces, with tails nearly as long as their bodies. All but one of the 25 species live in North America. Groups of chipmunks are known as a “scurry,” with four toes on their front paws and five toes on their back paws.

Although not as vocal as the beloved Alvin and the Chipmunks, they emit sounds that can resemble bird calls. Their life expectancy is typically only three years. In the wild, they climb trees and rocks when not hunkered down in their burrows, often eating mushrooms, berries, snails, and bird eggs.

The Siberian chipmunk is native to northern Asia, with reproducing populations in France, Belgium, Italy, and Germany. Originally sold as pets beginning in the 1960’s, Siberian chipmunks prefer dense forests and tend to stay close to the ground.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

Explore the life and history of Ross Bagdasarian, Sr., creator of the song that became the inspiration for Alvin, Theodore, and Simon, leading to an eventual billion-dollar global franchise.

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[1] Winston Weekly is a weekly blog and newsletter by Alysen Bayles of Bayles Connect: “Learn, live, love, read.” Resources: https://kids.nationalgrographic.com; Roger Di Silvestro, NOT Alvin and the Chipmunks, 10 Facts You May Not know about the Real Rodents, Dec. 13, 2011; Jason Cortez, Siberian Chipmunk Handbook, Dec. 2025; James R. Moore, The Complete Chipmunks Bible for Beginners, Feb 2026.