【Danyang=KoreaPlus】 Reporter Bong Ji Hyun = Squirrels in Banggok.
Did you know that squirrels and chipmunks are different? Koreans are taught one word: “squirrel”, to describe both squirrel and chipmunk. Hence the confusion when having to describe or refer to a chipmunk. Korea now has a huge number of chipmunks all over the nation, with their numbers surpassing the indigenous squirrels.
So how are they different? Chipmunks, unlike the Eastern squirrels, are much smaller and have stripes down their back and tail. Squirrels are much larger than chipmunks and are only found in uncontaminated environments such as national parks and Banggok-ri, among many other villages in the outskirts of Korea. Residents of Banggok-ri often race with these critters, as they seem to find it a challenge when they see a car approaching.
We all are aware of their love for nuts and seeds, but did you know that they are omnivores? Yes, their diet also consists of small animals such as baby birds and little snakes and are often found in unsupervised nests of small birds.