Spring is in the air here in the Wind River Canyon.  It's been warming up during the days with highs around sixty, the snow all but melted except for the shadows of juniper trees and northern facing slopes; the high peaks still white.  I noticed just this morning the wild mint beginning to show a few new green leaves.  During the summer our wild bees love the flowers of the wild mint, and in the fall the finches eat the seeds.  But the best tell of the changing weather Chipmunk, Wind River Canyon, WyomingPhotographic Portrait of a Chipmunk in the Wind River Canyon, Wyoming. are the chipmunks, because when the temperature warms a little they will be cleaning up the sunflower seeds that the birds have thrown around.  And who doesn't love Chip and Dale?

     There are twenty-five species of Chipmunk, all but one live in North America, and the other is the Siberian Chipmunk which lives in Asia.  Of the twenty-four species listed as living in North America, only one lives "back East."  That's right, the other twenty-three named species of chipmunk live mostly in the West, all of them here I think.

     They're not only cute, but they can live up to nine years, but probably not in this canyon.  The genus name Tamias means "treasurer" or "housekeeper"; which is adorable and a good description of their character I think.  The name chipmunk comes from the Ottawa, and they were referenced in books by the 1820's.  Their burrows run for more than ten feet!  The entrances to their homes are usually very well hidden, but if you watch closely maybe you can find their front door.

     They keep their sleeping area quite clean, I know this for a fact, as we had a "pet" chipmunk for a while, when I was a child growing up in Ohio.  "Chippy" was an amazing and wild baby chipmunk that was rescued by my Uncle from a feral cat.  That cute little chipmunk taught us a lot about wild animals; the snap-noise that little rodent made during mating season was loud and impossible to ignore, or forget to this very day.  He made his bed with shredded paper towels, in a small log my father drilled out for him.  "Chippy" sometimes had the run of a big house, but he always came back to his "burrow," an old bird cage that was his home.  He was loved by our whole family, I still have a soft spot for chipmunks.  

     Chipmunks are very important to Mother Nature, as they are quite crucial to the establishment of seedlings.  They store any number of assorted seeds, nuts and fruits for the winter months; and some of these grass, tree and bush seeds grow in the crazy places they "stash" them.  They are also a great place to start for a shutterbug, because it's easy to get them to trust you; all you need is a handful of sunflower seeds, no salt please.  Work slowly with no sudden movements, and take your time.  I've had wild chipmunks eating out of my niece's hand in no time at all.

     Photographing a chipmunk is all a matter of waiting for a moment you'd not want to forget, and be ready with your camera.  This last picture is one I worked hard for; I'd seen it in my head long before I pushed the button.  I'd waited for several weeks and shot loads of frames before the right time came.                    

Chipmunk - Wind River Canyon, WyomingWyoming Chipmunk doing gymnastics for his breakfast.        Find a family of chipmunks near you and try your hand this spring, or visit Yellowstone National Park, where I've seen children giggle when a chipmunk takes a treat from their hand.  Get outside this spring and visit one of Mother Nature's favorite friends.

Photography and Blog by Michael John Balog

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