I worked for an outfit so many years ago, it must have been in another life. The job was in the southern Sierra Nevada, and they had something like 90 head of horses and mules. Around that outfit there were chipmunks everywhere. When the horses were given their morning grain, they would chew with their mouth open, and some grain would slobber out, and the chipmunks would have a field day around the horses feet, grabbing that grain. The little buggers were also in the bunk house, to the point that in the morning when you were getting dressed, you had to shake your boots before you put them on, to make sure no chipmunk had bedded down in there. Wish I had some around my place now, I love watching the little critters. Neighbors cats would probably get them though. About three miles from my place there are some, but that guy feeds all the critters that want to hang out in his yard. I've never seen any closer to my place than that. Another chipmunk story. That job I had in the Sierra, well, I had a puppy that wasn't very old, perhaps 5 or 6 months. He got to chasing a chipmunk around a large pine tree. They did a half dozen laps, perhaps a couple of more, and the chipmunk reversed directions, and comes flying around the tree, and suddenly the chipmunk and the pup were nose to nose. They skidded to a stop, looked at each other for a second, and then both turned tail and ran in opposite directions. Another cute story. Took this family into the wilderness and dropped them off at a camp site. In that particular location around the camp, there were several fairly good sized stumps. Don't know who cut the trees down or why, there was no road close and no logs laying there, but there were those stumps. The lady in the group decided to wash the trail dust off while we were unpacking the animals. She put the wash basin and a bar of soap on one of the stumps. After washing up, she turned to do something else, and a chipmunk scrambled up onto the stump and decided to see if the soap was good to eat. Mr. Chipmunk did not like the soap, and the little stinker started chattering and chewing that lady out in no uncertain terms, all the while the soap was causing him to foam at the mouth. Yep, you are bringing up some good memories.
.I sat on the floor and was no more than a few feet away,such a precious creation. sooner or later I'll get him to take peanuts from me.
