I was sad to read the letter that said that chipmunks were rats with stripes. My chipmunks aren’t like that, although maybe I just have a better kind here. 

Chipmunks are an endless gift to me and my cats. Chippies are entertaining, running around and playing and eating whatever it is they eat in the yard. They like to come out of the rocks they live under and look at my cats. You can almost hear them saying, “Ha ha, I’m out here and you’re not!”

The cats don’t go outside, so probably that’s lucky for the chipmunks.

Everything seems to like watching them, including the big birds that hang out near the compost pile. 

They’re probably not as smart as crows. I feed the crows because there are lots of stories about how when crows like you maybe they’ll protect you if something happens. Like bang on your window if the house is on fire. It’s true, chipmunks wouldn’t do that. 

Anyway, chipmunks are lots of fun and they don’t eat my wires like the mice do or use my power tools without permission or anything. And I’m pretty sure they aren’t rats. I’ve seen rats and they’re a lot bigger.

Janet Walker

Monticello, NY