（双语文本）良好的冬季使得花栗鼠数量激增

Plenty of acorns -- the fruit of the oak tree -- has led to rising numbers of chipmunks in the Northeast .
大量的橡子，也就是橡树的果实，导致东北部的花栗鼠数量激增。
A large supply of acorns on the ground last winter provided food for chipmunks across New England as spring returned.Acorns and other nuts are a main part of the animals diet.They also eat insects, berries, and other kinds of fruit.
去年冬天，地面上有大量橡子。到了春天，这些橡子就成了花栗鼠的食物。橡子和其他坚果是花栗鼠主要的食物组成部分。它们还吃昆虫、浆果和其他种类的水果。
The plentiful food supply kept the chipmunks well fed as they got busy reproducing and having families this spring.Now, the growth in the chipmunk population is causing problems in some areas, with people saying the animals are driving them nuts.
今年春天，充足的食物供应使得花栗鼠能够吃得饱，它们忙于繁衍后代。现在，花栗鼠数量的激增在某些地区引发了问题，人们称这些动物让他们抓狂。
Shevenell Webb is a biologist with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in the state of Maine.She told The Associated Press (AP) that while chipmunks are often entertaining, they can be destructive.
舍韦内尔·韦伯是缅因州内陆渔业与野生动物局的一名生物学家。她告诉美联社（简称AP），虽然花栗鼠时常令人觉得有趣，但它们也具有破坏性。
The animals burrow through the ground, making holes and passageways.This can lead to the destruction of grass, flowers and other plant life, Webb said.
这些动物在地下打洞，形成洞穴和隧道。韦伯说，这可能对草地、花以及其他植物造成破坏。
She added that chipmunks can be "cute" and "fun to watch in the forest" as they move in and out of holes like playful children.When their mouths are not full of nuts, chipmunks make an interesting "chip" sound, Webb said.
她补充道，花栗鼠跑进跑出洞口时就像淘气的孩子，非常 “可爱”，而且“人们在森林里看到会觉得很有趣”。韦伯称，它们嘴里没塞满坚果的时候，会发出一种有趣的“唧唧声”。
Steven Parren is a wildlife program official with the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife.He told the AP he cannot grow flowers on his own property without chipmunks digging them up."They dont even pause," he noted.
史蒂文·帕伦是佛蒙特州鱼类与野生动植物局的野生动植物项目官员。他告诉美联社，要是没有花栗鼠把花挖出来，他就没法在自家院子里种花。他说：“它们甚至都不停歇。”
There were so many acorns in one area, Parren said, that there was no way the animals could have put them all away for winter.In addition to chipmunks, he says he is also seeing more squirrels, rabbits and different kinds of mice this year.
帕伦表示，一个地区有那么多橡子，花栗鼠不可能把这些全部搬走留过冬。他称，今年除了花栗鼠，他还看到更多的松鼠、兔子和不同鼠类。
Experts say people should not be too concerned about the summers larger population of chipmunks.They note while small animal populations can sometimes explode – growing quickly, they usually return to normal. Chipmunks can be food for other creatures. They are easy targets for owls, hawks, snakes, foxes, and raccoons.
专家表示，人们无需过度担心今年夏天花栗鼠数量的激增。他们指出，虽然小型动物种群有时会激增，即快速增多，但通常会恢复常态。花栗鼠会成为其他生物的猎物。它们很容易成为猫头鹰、鹰、蛇、狐狸和浣熊的目标。
But even if they survive such attacks, Webb said individual chipmunks usually only live about three years.
但韦伯表示，即使它们幸免于难，个别的花栗鼠通常只能活大约三年。
Many New Englanders remember a similar rise in the areas squirrel population in 2018.
许多新英格兰人都记得2018年该地区的松鼠数量也有过类似的激增现象。
Webb said that increase led to a memorable number of road kills."Weve never seen anything like that. That was a once in a lifetime event."
韦伯说，这种激增导致很多动物在路上被轧死事件，且数目惊人。“我们从未见过这样的事情。 那是百年不遇的。”
Im Bryan Lynn.
布莱恩·林恩报道。