Is that a local term for the chipmunk or scientific?

Interesting inter-species play

It's a local name for the thirteen-lined ground squirrel. It really is interesting in this part of the yard with different species interacting. We have snakes that drink from the bird bath and oh, boy! the birds are all in a dither.

What kind of snakes?

Garter snakes, but this last year we had a Fox snake hang out by the front porch. We had to encourage it off the porch when we had nesting Barn Swallows. The young were close to fledging. We didn't harm it, just encouraged and it never went back on there. We were relieved.

Oh
Fox snakes are beautiful . I don't have them but have seen them before. I bet they help themselves to all kinds of creatures in your prairie.

I do have garters and have never seen them drinking . I have several ground dishes of water for the toads, maybe they help themselves there.

Here's a picture... Do you see the young Chipping Sparrow? It was all upset, not sure where to land when it too wanted to use the birdbath.


2012 and 2013 were really dry here, so we had unusual things and birds drinking from the bird bath. I am still amazed at a mole that came out in the day time to get a drink. It must've been desperate.