My first encounter with chipmunks took place in a parking area at Yellowstone National Park. Our campsite was visited regularly by both chipmunks and squirrels. I was really in love with those charming little creatures. The wilderness area that we explored was very beautiful. Everywhere one could see colorful dead pine trees, trimmed with beautiful yellow-green moss. The chipmunks ran up and down these trees, seemingly disputing ownership of various items of food such as grass seed. Ground dwellers that burrow and climb, these chipmunks moved about on the tree trunks, and at one point in time paused about ten feet above ground level to eat the seeds that they had found below. - CB