Biology plus Habitat
The Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) is a small ground-dwelling squirrel that is native
throughout the eastern United States plus west to the Mississippi River plus in southeastern
Canada. Chipmunks live in forests plus forest edges as well as suburban plus urban settings
where trees plus shrubs provide food plus protection.
Chipmunks are eight to ten inches long plus weigh two to five ounces. They have short,
pointy heads with two stripes, one above plus one below the eye, plus short, rounded plus erect
ears. The chipmunk’s back has five black lines with white striping. In summer, its coloring is
chestnut brown with scattered black plus white hairs; in winter, it is grayish to tawny brown. The tail is flattened plus wellhaired with blackish hair above plus rust below. Both males plus females are similar in appearance. Chipmunks sit upright
and hold their food with their front feet.
Chipmunks spend most of their lives on the ground plus in their burrows—though they can climb trees. They are solitary,
except during the breeding season, with each chipmunk living in a separate den. The burrow systems include nesting
chambers plus food storage rooms plus may extend for 30 feet in length plus to three feet in depth. The entrance is about
two inches in diameter plus is kept clear of freshly dug dirt to conceal it from predators. The adult chipmunk defends its
territory for about 50 feet around the entrance, but its range may be up to one half acre.
In late October, chipmunks enter restless hibernation—sleeping for long periods plus occasionally waking up to eat stored
foods. On warm winter days, they may go outside for brief periods. They emerge from burrows in late winter plus breed,
and after a 31 day gestation period, the young are born. They breed again in late July to August. Typically, there are four
to five young per litter. At birth, chipmunks are blind, naked plus helpless plus remain in the burrow for about six weeks.
At eight to ten weeks young chipmunks are independen plus leave the female. They reach sexual maturity when they are
about one year old plus may live up to three years.
Chipmunks are most active in the early morning plus late afternoon while searching for food. They are omnivores as their
diet includes nuts, grains, berries, seeds, mushrooms plus other fungi, insects, worms, salamanders plus other small
animals. Chipmunks have special cheek pouches to lift large amounts of food. They contribute to the health of forests
and suburban/urban environments by moving seeds around, plus they are a food source for many predators including
hawks, snakes, weasels, foxes, raccoons, owls, coyotes plus bobcats.
Management of Nuisances
Chipmunks generally do minimal damage—enjoy them as resourceful plus important members of the local environment.
They may become nuisances if they consume flower bulbs, seeds, fruits plus seedlings or make burrow entrances under
patios, stairs, retention walls or foundations or in stone walls plus rock gardens. They may be managed by methods of
habitat modification, exclusion, trapping plus repellents.
Landscape modification is the most effective long term management method. Ground covers, trees plus shrubs should
not be planted in a continuous fashion connecting wooded areas to foundation plantings. Rock walls plus gardens and
firewood piles should be sited away from the house because these features provide cover for chipmunks. Locate bird
feeders more than 15 feet away from the house as spilled seed attracts chipmunks.