This adorably cute animal is starting to show up in odd places in North Carolina

A rare instance of an animal expanding its range is under investigation in North Carolina, and luckily it involves something that is both harmless and adorably cute: chipmunks.

Eastern chipmunks are rarely seen east of Wake County, yet evidence has surfaced the rodents may have hustled their way to the coast, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission said in a news release.

“We recently received an observation with photos of a chipmunk in the Wilmington area,” state mammalogist Andrea Shipley said.

“It is likely a case of hitch hiking. However, we’d like the public to notify us of any chipmunk sightings east of Wake County.”

Chipmunks are a smaller version of squirrels, with reddish brown fur and black stripes on their sides. However, unlike tree-happy squirrels, they thrive underground, the commission says.

“Perhaps the chipmunk’s most distinguishing feature is its large cheek pouches, in which can be stored a heaping tablespoonful of nuts or seeds,” the commission reports.

“The chipmunk loads each cheek pouch with its front paws through a gap in its side teeth, then unloads its supplies in a storage burrow underground.”

Anyone in the eastern half of the state who spots a chipmunk is asked to take photos and report it to the commission at 866-318-2401 or by email at HWI@ncwildlife.org.

This story was originally published May 26, 2021 at 5:52 PM with the headline "This adorably cute animal is starting to show up in odd places in North Carolina."