It has been two months since I took the three chipmunks home.  They still don't have much hair, but I think I discovered that they were just shedding.  I did an experiment in which I put the chipmunks into my bedroom and turned on the air conditioner.  They slept a lot, but withing just a few days I noticed that they were growing fine hair.

 

They are getting so cute.  They have just this weekend started forming the little blsck and white mask on their faces.

 

I rarely take them out of the cage any more.  They are getting a little wild, and restless.  They will crawl on my arm for a few minutes then jump off.  Chip escaped from his cage last week, and it was several days before he returned to the cage.  I tried everything to catch him, but he did not want to be caught.  I finally had to go out of town for the weekend.  I left food and water for the chipmunks in the cage, and some out on the top of the cage for chip.

 

When I returned home he had knocked the food and water off, and had somehow nuzzled his way back into the cage.  Thank goodness he couldn't figure out how to get back out.

 

They have become so discontent in the cage that I have decided that this week I will set them free in the kindergarten playground.  I am having the maintenance man to build a platform for me to place the box they are use to sleeping in on.  I am going to make feeders using coke bottles to give them food and water until they can learn to hunt for themselves, and get use to unboiled water.

 

I am a little freightened for them, but I just can't stand to see them pacing in the cage trying to find a way out.  Their hearts long to be free, and because I love them I have to give them their freedom.

 

Their refuge has become a prison. I realize that there are dangers in their freedom, but I believe that they would rather face the danger than to spend a life contained safely behind bars. 

 

I know that if I were a chipmunk I would say "let me live in nature playing tag in the treetops with ofther furry little creatures."