This is Emma again, who resides behind the waterfall of the Koi pond. I regularly, but one at a time, hand feed Emma, Stella and the other visting chipmunks. Stella has a shortened tail and lives near the far side of the Koi pond. They both run around me or pause at my feet when I am in the gardens. Today I hand fed her as I usually do except that I hadn't seen her for about a week or so. I think that I have found out why - she is pregnant. Well let me say that she is exceptionally plump around her midsection. I have read that chipmunks have one or two litters a year, in early spring and late summer if the weather (zone) is warm enough. I didn't see her pregnant or have little ones in the spring so I guess that she was playing hard to get. Hopefully I'll see the little ones soon and will post any photos that I am fortunate enough to take. Hopefully she'll trust me with the little ones once they are old enough to feed on solid food. We'll wait and see. |