While chipmunks are cute and approachable, they can bite. Most eastern chipmunks survive for about two years in the wild. Young will begin to survive on their own at eight weeks. After young are weaned, females move to a different burrow and leave young in their natal burrow until they disperse. The female gestation period is about 35 days. The babies are born blind and hairless in their underground burrows. Family LifeĬhipmunks can have two litters a year - one in spring and one in midsummer. The largest squirrels can grow up to 4550 centimeters (1820 in) long, while chipmunks typically average about 13. They usually run with their tails holding high. The tails of chipmunks are fuzzy and bushy. Chipmunks have rounded and erect ears, whereas ground squirrels have short ears that do not stick above the head. They will even carry the soil they dig up away from the burrow, so the location stays hidden. That is to say, the chipmunk is small and cute, like a little mouse, while the squirrel is larger and obviously less cute since you don’t see any of them running around with bright red sweaters annoying people named Dave. Difference Between Chipmunk and Ground Squirrel: The chipmunks have seven stripes on its body, whereas ground squirrels have 13 lines. While the entrance to their burrows may look small, the burrows can extend up to three feet underground.Ĭhipmunks are always concerned about predators, so they choose places to burrow near natural cover, like rocks or logs. Unlike their tree-dwelling cousins, chipmunks prefer to burrow underground. Foraging for their own food is healthier than accepting human food handouts.Ī chipmunk’s cheek pouch can actually stretch to be three times the size of its head! That’s very useful when they’re collecting food to store for the winter. They collect seeds, nuts, berries, and mushrooms to take back to their burrow. Chipmunks are perfectly capable of feeding themselves. DietĬhipmunks use their cheeks to help them store food. They prefer forested natural areas, as trees provide nuts and seeds and protection from predators, such as hawks. BehaviorĬhipmunks are most active during the daytime. They do not hibernate but stay mostly underground during the colder months.įoraging for food occurs mainly on the ground, but they can also climb. Their tails are shorter and usually much less fluffy than a squirrel's. Chipmunks are less than half that length, and weigh just 4 ounces - that's lighter than a baseball! Chipmunks also have black, brown, or white stripes that run along their back. Squirrels' bodies are typically 9-12 inches long (excluding their tail). While they are both members of the squirrel family, Sciuridae, chipmunks are a totally different species.Įastern chipmunk (left) and an eastern gray squirrel (right) Chipmunks are even occasionally mistaken for baby squirrels. People sometimes confuse eastern chipmunks with eastern gray squirrels. Although our eastern gray squirrels get most of the attention, eastern chipmunks are pretty common in our parks, too.Ĭhipmunks can be found scurrying along the ground looking for food - sometimes with their cheeks stuffed with seeds, nuts, and other snacks. As you explore our parks, keep your eyes peeled for these cute critters, especially in the fall when they gather food for winter.
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