Chipmunks typically mate in the spring and summer months. During this time, male chipmunks will compete for the attention of females by chasing them and displaying their best features, such as their fur and bushy tails. When a male and female chipmunk are ready to mate, the male will mount the female and insert his penis into her vagina. The male chipmunk will ejaculate, releasing a fluid containing sperm. The sperm will then travel to the female's eggs and fertilize them.
2. Gestation
The female chipmunk will carry the fertilized eggs for around 3 weeks. During this time, the eggs will develop into embryos. The embryos will eventually grow into full-term chipmunks.
3. Birth
The female chipmunk will give birth to her young in a nest that she has built in a hollow log, under a rock, or in a burrow. The female chipmunk will typically give birth to a litter of 2 to 8 chipmunks. The baby chipmunks are called "pups." The pups are born blind and helpless, but they will quickly develop and start to learn how to survive on their own.
4. Nursing
The female chipmunk will nurse her pups for around 4 to 6 weeks. The pups will drink milk from their mother's mammary glands. The milk will provide the pups with the nutrients they need to grow and develop.
5. Weaning
When the pups are around 6 weeks old, they will be weaned. Weaning is the process of stopping the pups from drinking milk from their mother. The pups will start to eat solid food, such as seeds, nuts, and insects.
6. Independence
The pups will become independent from their mother around 8 to 10 weeks of age. The pups will leave their mother's nest and strike out on their own. The pups will spend the rest of their lives living in the wild.