Chipmunks and Chipmunk Control - Part 5 of 9 - What Chipmunks Eat

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The typical chipmunk diet will consist of the grains, fruits, nuts, seeds, plants, and mushrooms specific to its living habitat. However, many chipmunks have also been known to eat insects and some may consume small or young animals and even young birds, lizards, and bird eggs.

All chipmunks that hibernate collect food in their cheek pouches and store it either in chambers designated for this purpose inside their burrow or in food caches that they have buried. The chipmunk requires this food source because unlike most hibernating animals, the chipmunk does not gain excessive weight through the summer and fall months to sustain it through the winter. The chipmunk will periodically wake throughout the winter to consume this food and at times, when the weather is suitable, exit its burrow to explore its surroundings.

The lodgepole chipmunk is known as a notorious stealer of bird eggs.

Acknowledgment:

• David E. Williams, 1994. Chipmunks: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. State Director. USDA-APHIS Animal Damage Control. Lincoln, Nebraska
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Chipmunks and Chipmunk Control - Part 4 of 9 - Where Chipmunks Live

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There are nearly as many preferable habitats for the various types of chipmunk as there are differences between them. Which is easily understood considering they inhabit elevations ranging from sea level to 14,000 feet and their corresponding eco-systems. One habitat characteristic that seems to be common among many types of chipmunk is the preference for some sort of rocky outcropping which is used for both burrow creation and shelter. Other chipmunks prefer forested areas, and for a few types, the forest is a requirement for their habitat. Others still, strictly avoid it.

Most chipmunk burrows will be 20 to 30 feet long and have many openings, some of which may be hidden by leaves and debris. The burrow system will typically contain a nesting chamber and several food storage chambers and may be used for many seasons. In the creation of the burrow system, the chipmunk does not leave any apparent dirt mounding near any of its burrow openings; it will carry this dirt away in its cheek pouches and loosely distribute it to help conceal these entrances.

The least chipmunk, Allen's chipmunk, red-tailed chipmunk, long-eared chipmunk, Merriam's chipmunk (the Unita chipmunk and Palmer's chipmunk as well, to a lesser extent) all are prolific climbers and often will construct their nests in a tree high above the ground. Most of the other members of the species' not listed above are only found in a tree when frightened. All chipmunks create their hibernation chambers underground.

Particular preferences for individual species may be found below. Not all species are listed:

• Eastern chipmunk - A ground dweller. The eastern chipmunk has two breeding seasons a year averaging 4 to 5 offspring per pregnancy. This chipmunk will defend a small territory around its burrow.
  
• Least chipmunk - An occasional Tree dweller. The least chipmunk has one litter a year of between 2 and 6 young. The male of this species may help raise the young.
  
• Colorado chipmunk - A ground dweller that may often be seen foraging for food high in trees. This chipmunk can be found at elevations from 6,000 to 8,200 feet. The Colorado chipmunk typically has one litter of 2 to 7 young per year, however, a second litter occasionally may be found in the late fall. The male of this species may help raise the young.
  
• Uinta chipmunk - A tree dweller found at elevations from 6,500 to 11,200 feet. The Unita chipmunk has one litter of 4 to 5 young per year. This chipmunk may occasionally create its nest in an abandoned birds nest.
  
• Lodgepole chipmunk - Another ground dweller that may often be seen foraging for food high in trees. The lodgepole chipmunk will have one litter of 3 to 6 pups per year. This chipmunk can be found at elevations from 4,900 to 11,000 feet. A very shy chipmunk that will rarely be seen or heard.
  
• Sonoma chipmunk - A ground dweller. The Sonoma chipmunk has one litter of 3 to 5 young per year. This chipmunk can be found at elevations from sea level to 6,000 feet. It is generally believed that the members of this species found at lower elevations do not hibernate.
  
• Allen's chipmunk - A tree dweller found at elevations from 500 to 6,000 feet. The Allen's chipmunk has one litter of 3 to 5 young per year.
  
• Red-tailed chipmunk - Another tree dweller. The red-tailed chipmunk has one litter of 3 to 8 young per year.
  
• Long-eared chipmunk - A tree dweller found at elevations from 3,200 to 7,400 feet. The long-eared chipmunk has one litter of 3 to 5 young per year.
  
• Panamint chipmunk - A ground dweller preferring a rocky habitat. The Panamint chipmunk has one litter of 4 to 6 young per year and will be found at elevations between 4,500 and 9,000 feet.
  
• Palmer's chipmunk - Mainly a tree dweller found at elevations from 6,900 to 11,800 feet. The Palmer's chipmunk has one litter of 3 to 6 young per year. This species of chipmunk is extremely aggressive and territorial.
  
• Merriam's chipmunk - A tree and ground dweller found at elevations up to and beyond 8,800 feet. The Merriam's chipmunk has one litter of 3 to 7 young per year.
  
• Cliff chipmunk - Typically a rock outcropping dweller found at elevations from 4,900 to 12,000+ feet. The Cliff chipmunk has one litter of 4 to 6 young per year and is usually active in the early morning and late afternoon. This species of chipmunk is fiercely territorial near its burrow but often shares food sites with other cliff chipmunks.
  
• Gray-collared chipmunk - A ground dweller found at elevations from 6,400 to 11,000+ feet. The gray-collared chipmunk has one litter of 2 to 5 young per year. These animals will often be found around homes and structures.
  
• Gray-footed chipmunk - A ground dweller found at elevations from 5,300 to 11,900 feet. The gray-footed chipmunk has one litter of about 4 young per year.
  
• Yellow-pine chipmunk - A tree and ground dweller found at elevations from 2,000 to 14,000+ feet. The yellow-pine chipmunk has one litter of 3 to 8 young per year.
  
• Alpine chipmunk - A ground dweller found at elevations from 7,500 to 12,500+ feet. The alpine chipmunk has one litter of 4 to 5 young per year.
  

Acknowledgment:

• David E. Williams, 1994. Chipmunks: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. State Director. USDA-APHIS Animal Damage Control. Lincoln, Nebraska
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Chipmunks and Chipmunk Control - Part 3 of 9 - Chipmunk Geography

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• Eastern chipmunk - found in most areas of eastern North America from North Carolina across the center of the gulf bordering states to Louisana, North to central Ontario and northeast to Nova Scotia.
  
• Hopi chipmunk - found in the canyon-lands of eastern Utah, northern Arizona, and western Colorado.
  
• Least chipmunk - found from the Rocky Mountains west to the Sierra Nevada and from northern Arizona and central New Mexico north to northern Canada. The least chipmunk is not found in the majority of the states of Idaho, Washington, or Oregon but is found throughout most of central Canada.
  
• Townsend's chipmunk - found mostly along the costal areas of Oregon, Washington, and southern British Colombia.
  
• Dusky chipmunk - found in California and northern Mexico in a thin band from the San Bernardino & San Jacinto ranges south to Baja California.
  
• Yellow-cheeked chipmunk - found only in a very small costal area of California from the Eel River in Humboldt County to Bodega bay in Sonoma County.
  
• Siskiyou chipmunk - another very small ranging species of chipmunk, the Siskiyou chipmunk can be found in the mountains of northern California and southern Oregon.
  
• Colorado chipmunk - found in northern New Mexico, parts of eastern and northern Utah, and throughout Colorado.
  
• Uinta chipmunk - is found discontinuously distributed throughout the mountainous regions of the Southern Sierra Nevada in California and the mountains of Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming.
  
• Lodgepole chipmunk - found in California throughout the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada range and in the San Jacinto, San Bernardino, and San Gabriel mountains.
  
• Sonoma chipmunk - found on the west coast of California from the San Francisco bay area north to Siskiyou County.
  
• Allen's chipmunk - found on the west coast of California from the Eel River in Humboldt County north to southern Oregon and east across that entire range through the Sierra Nevada and just into Nevada itself.
  
• Red-tailed chipmunk - found in the Rocky Mountains northwest into northeastern Washington State, north along the eastern edge of British Colombia and east to southwestern Alberta.
  
• Long-eared chipmunk - found in California throughout the northern Sierra Nevada and in the Lake Tahoe Basin area of Nevada State.
  
• Panamint chipmunk - The Panamint chipmunk has a very small range between southeastern California and southwestern Nevada.
  
• Palmer's chipmunk - found only in the Spring Mountains west of Las Vegas, Nevada.
  
• Merriam's chipmunk - found throughout central and southern California.
  
• Cliff chipmunk - found in southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
  
• Gray-collared chipmunk - found in central and eastern Arizona and central and southwest New Mexico.
  
• Gray-footed chipmunk - found in the mountains of eastern New Mexico and western Texas.
  
• Yellow-pine chipmunk - found in the northwestern area of the United States and southwestern Canada.
  
• Alpine chipmunk - found exclusively in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of eastern and central California at altitudes of 7,500 to 12,500+ feet.
  

Acknowledgment:

• David E. Williams, 1994. Chipmunks: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. State Director. USDA-APHIS Animal Damage Control. Lincoln, Nebraska
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Chipmunks and Chipmunk Control - Part 2 of 9 - ID Your Chipmunk

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The locations where these particular chipmunks live can be found on our Chipmunk Geography page.

The chipmunk is a small, mostly ground-dwelling squirrel that can usually be distinguished from the squirrel by one of the following attributes:

• All chipmunks have stripes on their face.
  
• When startled, unlike the squirrel, most chipmunks will run away with their tail sticking straight into the air (most squirrels hold theirs horizontally and parallel to the ground).
  
• The chipmunk is much smaller than most squirrels.
  
• Unlike the squirrel, the chipmunk has pouches inside of its mouth where it will collect food to be stored - when these pouches are full, they can be as large as the head of the chipmunk.
  

Often, it may be difficult to tell two differing species of chipmunk apart that habituate a common area due to their numerous similarities. Listing these minute differences are well beyond the scope of this compilation. For definitive identification of similar species, simply perform a web search for your target animals.

North America is home to at least 22 species of chipmunk. Thirteen of these species can be found in California (with some overflow into surrounding states), the nine remaining species are scattered throughout North America. Not all of these species are listed below.

• Eastern chipmunk, Tamias striatus, is often the largest of the chipmunk species. On the back of the eastern chipmunk will be found 5 black stripes separated by stripes of gray, white, or brown. The underside of this chipmunk will typically be yellowish or whitish in color. The tail of the eastern chipmunk will be red-brown in color. Eastern chipmunks will grow to between 8.5-inches and 11.25-inches long and have an average weight of approximately 3.8 ounces.
  
• Hopi chipmunk, Tamias rufus, is one of the smaller of the chipmunk species weighing in at approximately 1.9 ounces and measuring between 6 and 8-inches in length. The Hopi chipmunks' coloring is typically a pale orange to yellow with faint almost unnoticeable stripes.
  
• Least chipmunk, Tamias minimus, is the smallest chipmunk found in North America. This chipmunk has three dark and two light stripes on the face and five dark and four light stripes on its back. The center stripe on the back of the least chipmunk will run to the end of its tail. The fur surrounding the stripes is typically orange-brown in color and its underside will be a white or off-white hue. The least chipmunk will grow to between 6 and 8-inches long and weigh between 1.5 ounces and 1.9 ounces.
  
• Townsend's chipmunk, Tamias townsendii. is one of the larger western chipmunks and will be most often found with dark colored fur and distinctive stripes. The Townsend's chipmunk will grow to between 8.7-inches and 12.5-inches long and have an average weight of approximately 3.5 ounces but can weigh up to 5 ounces.
  
• Dusky chipmunk, Tamias obscurus, is found with a grayish colored head, distinctive black and white colored facial stripes, and rather indistinct body striping that tends to blend in with its brownish background coloring. The dusky chipmunk will grow to between 8.25-inches and 9.25-inches long and weigh between 2 and 3 ounces.
  
• Yellow-cheeked chipmunk, Tamias ochrogenys, the yellow-cheeked chipmunk is very similar in appearance to the Hopi chipmunk in its pale yellowish-orange coloring. The yellow-cheeked chipmunk will grow to an average length of 10.25-inches and have an average weight of approximately 3.4 ounces.
  
• Siskiyou chipmunk, Tamias siskiyou, is found with a dull brown or grayish coat and is another of the larger chipmunk species. The Siskiyou chipmunk will grow to between 9.75 and 10.5-inches long and weight between 2.25 and 3.5 ounces.
  
• Colorado chipmunk, Tamias quadrivittatus, is one of the smaller of the chipmunk species averaging in at approximately 2.5 ounces in weight and measuring between 7 and 9-inches in length. The coloring of the Colorado chipmunk is yellowish brown with 3 black median stripes on its back that are typically margined by yellow-orange. The outer stripes are usually brown and the underside of the Colorado chipmunk is often an off-white or gray.
  
• Uinta chipmunk, Tamias umbrinus, is found with broad, brown colored body stripes edged with white and a grey or grey-brown colored head with black facial stripes. The Unita chipmunk has an off-white or gray-white underside. The Unita chipmunk is a medium sized chipmunk that grows to an average of between 8.5 and 9.5-inches long and weigh between 1.8 and 2.6 ounces.
  
• Lodgepole chipmunk, Tamias speciosus, is another of the small to medium sized chipmunk species found in North America. The lodgepole chipmunk will grow to an average of between 7.75 and 9-inches long and weigh between 1.8 and 2.5 ounces. This chipmunk is typically easy to identify in relationship to other neighboring chipmunk species that habituate the same area due to its sharp coloration and distinctive markings. The facial and body striping of the lodgepole chipmunk tend to be very dark and usually are a sharp contrast with the lighter colored border stripes. The underside of the lodgepole chipmunk will typically be a cinnamon color.
  
• Sonoma chipmunk, Tamias sonomae, is identified by rust colored body fur with 5 black body stripes separated by gray or brown colored stripes that are not sharply distinct. The facial stripes of the Sonoma chipmunk are usually white and its underside is typically found to be a creamy white hue.
  
• Allen's chipmunk, Tamias senex, also known as the shadow chipmunk, is a large chipmunk found with gray colored fur and one clearly discernable black body stripe. The underside of the Allen's chipmunk is typically white in color. The Allen's chipmunk will grow to between 9 and 10.25-inches long and weigh between 2.5 and 4 ounces.
  
• Red-tailed chipmunk, Tamias ruficaudus, is a large and deep orange-brown colored chipmunk with distinct contrasting colors. Its dark colored or black body stripes typically alternate with or gray or white. The facial stripes of the red-tailed chipmunk alternate brown and milky-white with a black eye stripe. The red-tailed chipmunk will grow to an average length of 9.25-inches and have an average weight of approximately 2.1 ounces.
  
• Long-eared chipmunk, Tamias quadrimaculatus, is easily distinguished by white patches of fur behind each of its long slender ears, dark body striping, and white-fringed tail. The bulk of its body is typically red hued with a white underside. The long-eared chipmunk will grow to between 9 and 9.5-inches long and weight between 2.6 and 3.7 ounces.
  
• Panamint chipmunk, Tamias panamintinus, is colored a bright tawny or yellowish color with mostly faded markings except for its uppermost stripes, which are typically dark with a brown center stripe. The Panamint chipmunk usually has a gray head and underside. This chipmunk will grow to between 8. 5 and 9.5-inches long and weight between 2.6 and 3.7 ounces.
  
• Palmer's chipmunk, Tamias palmeri, is one of the smaller of the chipmunk species averaging in at approximately 1.75 to 2.5 ounces in weight and measuring between 8.25 and 8.75-inches in length. The coloring of the Palmer's chipmunk is tawny and tan with distinctive solid black and solid white stripes and a pale underside.
  
• Merriam's chipmunk, Tamias merriami, is found with grayish-brown fur and dark colored body stripes of equal width on its back. The Merriam's chipmunk typically will have a white underside and white cheeks. The Merriam's chipmunk is a larger sized chipmunk that grows to an average length of 9.5-inches long and may weigh between 2.5 and 2.75 ounces.
  
• Cliff chipmunk, Tamias dorsalis, is primarily a gray-brown colored chipmunk with dark body stripes on its back that are typically more distinct during the summer than the winter. This particular species tends to not have white stripes alternating with the darker body stripes. The underside of the cliff chipmunk will often be a off-white color. The cliff chipmunk will grow to an average of between 8.5 and 9.5-inches long and weigh between 2.1 and 2.6 ounces.
  
• Gray-collared chipmunk, Tamias cinereicollis, is easily identified by its distinct black, pale gray, and off-white body stripes and gray hood. The gray-collared chipmunk will grow to an average of between 8.1 and 9.5-inches long and weigh between 1.9 and 2.5 ounces.
  
• Gray-footed chipmunk, Tamias canipes. The distinguishing feature of this chipmunk is its gray colored fur on its hind feet. The primary body striping of this chipmunk will be brown or black alternating with stripes of gray-brown and gray-white. The underside of the gray-footed chipmunk is typically creamy-white in color. The gray-footed chipmunk will grow to between 8.25 and 10.25-inches long and weigh between 2.3 and 2.6 ounces.
  
• Yellow-pine chipmunk, Tamias amoenus, has 5 black, evenly spaced body stripes alternating with stripes of gray or white. The bulk of the body fur of the yellow-pine chipmunk will typically found to be a cinnamon or light-brown coloring. The yellow-pine chipmunk is one of the smaller North American chipmunks. It will grow to between 7 and 9.25-inches and weigh between 1 and 1.75 ounces.
  
• Alpine chipmunk, Tamias alpinus, , is a small chipmunk of pale yellow-gray coloring and slightly contrasting body stripes. The belly of the alpine chipmunk is usually found to be a bright orange color. This chipmunk will grow to between 6.5 and 8-inches long and weight between 2.6 and 3.7 ounces.
  

Acknowledgment:

• David E. Williams, 1994. Chipmunks: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. State Director. USDA-APHIS Animal Damage Control. Lincoln, Nebraska
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web
  

Chipmunks and Chipmunk Control - Part 1 of 9 - The Chipmunk

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Unlike the gopher and mole, which are primarily underground dwellers, the chipmunk is similar to the woodchuck as a surface grazer. It will typically be found sitting on a log or rock snacking or primping its fur coat or dashing off at a high speed emitting a whole collection of sounds while holding its tail straight into the air. This inclination of the chipmunk to hold its tail in this posture can often be used to distinguish between it and a squirrel, as the tendency of most squirrels is to hold its tail horizontal while running. The chipmunk is actually a small type of squirrel and often the only other characteristics that can be used to differentiate between the two besides tail posturing are the facial stripes, and smaller size of the chipmunk.

The chipmunk is usually a solitary animal that will only socialize during the mating season. When not engaging in mating activity, most chipmunks will be found on what seems an endless quest for gathering, eating, and hoarding food and chasing other chipmunks away from its burrow. This voracious practice of collecting food can often be one of the factors to get the chipmunk in trouble with the humans whom it lives around. Unprotected bulbs, seed, vegetables, and fruits within easy reach of the chipmunk are all fair game, and because the chipmunk is often collecting and storing many of these items rather than eat them, it can do considerable damage to a flower or vegetable garden within a short period of time unless proper protective or preventative measures are taken. Another area where the chipmunk also tends to get itself into trouble is in the creation of its burrow under or near a structure. This burrow will occasionally have the tendency to weaken the structure under which it is made and in some cases may lead to structural failure; again proper protective or preventative measures can be exercised to avoid this problem.

Acknowledgment:

• David E. Williams, 1994. Chipmunks: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. State Director. USDA-APHIS Animal Damage Control. Lincoln, Nebraska
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web