Food HabitsĬhipmunks primarily eat nuts, berries, seeds, mushrooms, insects, and carrion. Densities of eastern chipmunks may be as high as 10 animals per acre if sufficient food and cover are available. Home ranges of chipmunks may be up to ½ acre, but adults only defend a territory about 50 feet around the entrance of their burrow. They often are present in parks and backyards. HabitatĮastern chipmunks live in deciduous forests, and prefer areas with rocky or shrubby protective cover. Chipmunks generally are solitary, except during courtship, or when rearing young. Most chipmunks emerge from torpor by early March. Some individuals become active on warm, sunny days during winter. They do not enter a deep hibernation, and rely on the cache of food stored in their burrow. With the onset of cold weather, chipmunks are inactive from late fall through winter. Burrow systems normally include a nesting chamber, 1 or 2 food storage chambers, various side pockets connected to the main tunnel, and separate escape tunnels. The main tunnel typically is 20 to 30 feet in length. No obvious mounds of soil occur around the entrance. The burrow entrance usually is about 2 inches in diameter. Nesting/Denning CoverĬhipmunk burrows are often well hidden near objects or buildings (e.g., stumps, wood piles, brush piles, stone walls, and basement or garage foundations). Two to 5 young are born in April or May, and again in August or October. General Biology, Reproduction, and Behavior ReproductionĮastern chipmunks mature within a year, and mate twice per year, during early spring and summer through early fall. All rodents are susceptible to Lyme disease. Health and Safety ConcernsĬhipmunks are not important carriers of diseases harmful to humans. Species RangesĮastern chipmunks occur throughout the northeastern US. The tail is 3 to 4 inches long and hairy. Two tan, and 5 black longitudinal stripes occur on the back, and 2 tan and 2 brown stripes occur on each side of the face. Physical DescriptionĮastern chipmunks are 5 to 6 inches long and weigh 3 ounces. They spend most of their time on the ground, and when startled, run with their tails upright. The eastern chipmunk (Figure 1) is a common, native species in the northeastern US. Most states allow landowners to capture and kill chipmunks when they are causing, or about to cause damage. Legal StatusĬhipmunks may be protected by regulations in some states. They dig burrows that can disrupt patios, stone walls, and sidewalks. Explain appropriate options for managing chipmunk damage.Įastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) feed on garden vegetables and flowers.Describe how chipmunk behavior can influence methods used for managing damage.Identify signs of chipmunk activity and damage.Understand the biology of the eastern chipmunk.Photo by Tom Tetzner, US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Your source for animal handling, control methods, and wildlife species information. Research-based, certified wildlife control training programs to solve human – wildlife conflicts. Prepared by the National Wildlife Control Training Program.
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