I have a good-sized flock of juncos in my yard these days, but the energetic little birds are still battling chipmunks for any seed that falls to the ground under the feeders.
Chipmunks hibernate for the winter, but they don’t disappear until the temperature drops into a specific range. We’ve had a few hard frosts, but the daytime temperatures are still warm enough that the chipmunks aren’t yet ready to kick up their feet and snooze.
Hibernating chipmunks drift in and out of torpor throughout the winter. In torpor their body temperature and heart rate drop dramatically, decreasing the need for food. Torpor can last a few days or even weeks. Occasionally they awake to eat, move around and, well, “use the restroom.”
Usually chipmunks stay put for the winter whether they are sleeping or awake, but on more than one occasion I’ve seen a chipmunk pop out on a mild winter day to restock its food supply with whatever it can find under the feeders.