Last night at around 8:00 p.m., I started to get acquainted with the second chipmunk, the one that lives under the neighbor's garage to the north.
I noticed almost immediately that he has a few traits in common with Chip-Chip. First, he is wary but curious, hunkering down close to his burrow hole in case a quick escape is called for; yet his curiosity compels him to stay above ground, watching me and trying to figure out my intentions. Second, he can be persuaded to be more friendly by the placement of a few fresh peanuts. Third, he's a cute little fella, especially when propped up on his hind legs to get a better view over the new iris and daylily blades.
He is a bit larger, and his stripes are more pronounced. My guess is that he could be older than Chip-Chip. Maybe an older cousin, twice removed, on his mother's side. Maybe an uncle. Or an aunt. It's difficult to say without documentation.
There's also a big difference between the two chipmunks. The second one likes to stay out late at night. I watched him until twilight, or roughly 9:00 p.m., which is not supposed to happen with chipmunks. They're supposed to take care of the day's business early in the morning and finish up by early afternoon. This one, however, likes the night life. What a nonconformist. But such activities are also consistent with what I've said earlier about chipmunks: They're dare devils.
Finally, since it's awkward to refer to the second chipmunk as the second chipmunk, I've decided to call him Chipper. A woodpile is nearby, so the name sort of makes sense. Anyway, it's better than calling him Bark or Log or Woody or Woodpile or Floyd . . .
. . . I hope an owl doesn't get him.
I noticed almost immediately that he has a few traits in common with Chip-Chip. First, he is wary but curious, hunkering down close to his burrow hole in case a quick escape is called for; yet his curiosity compels him to stay above ground, watching me and trying to figure out my intentions. Second, he can be persuaded to be more friendly by the placement of a few fresh peanuts. Third, he's a cute little fella, especially when propped up on his hind legs to get a better view over the new iris and daylily blades.
He is a bit larger, and his stripes are more pronounced. My guess is that he could be older than Chip-Chip. Maybe an older cousin, twice removed, on his mother's side. Maybe an uncle. Or an aunt. It's difficult to say without documentation.
There's also a big difference between the two chipmunks. The second one likes to stay out late at night. I watched him until twilight, or roughly 9:00 p.m., which is not supposed to happen with chipmunks. They're supposed to take care of the day's business early in the morning and finish up by early afternoon. This one, however, likes the night life. What a nonconformist. But such activities are also consistent with what I've said earlier about chipmunks: They're dare devils.
Finally, since it's awkward to refer to the second chipmunk as the second chipmunk, I've decided to call him Chipper. A woodpile is nearby, so the name sort of makes sense. Anyway, it's better than calling him Bark or Log or Woody or Woodpile or Floyd . . .
. . . I hope an owl doesn't get him.
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