Eastern Chipmunks
Order:
Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Species: Tamias striatus
The eastern chipmunk, as the name implies, is common throughout the eastern United States. This small-sized member of the squirrel family can become a nuisance as well as a destructive outdoor pest. On occasion, they find shelter indoors in areas such as attics, basements and crawl spaces.
Initially,
homeowners may find chipmunks entertaining.
However, their habits of digging up plants to feed and creating
burrows becomes annoying.
When populations are large, chipmunks can threaten ornamental plants
and vegetable gardens, or cause significant structural damage by undermining
slabs and foundations with burrows.
Biology and Habits
A chipmunk is easily distinguished from other rodents by its contrasting markings. Its body is marked with two beige and five black stripes running down the back, including a black median stripe. The face has two beige and two brown stripes on each side, creating a light marking circling each eye with a dark stripe passing through the eyes’ corners.
An adult weighs 2 to 4 ounces. Its body length ranges from 5 to 6 inches, with the hairy tail adding another 3 to 4 inches. Chipmunks have four toes on forelegs and five toes on hind legs. Cheek pouches can expand to carry food.
Chipmunks can mate twice a year, raising 2 to 5 young in the spring and fall. The young remain in the burrow until almost full grown. Adults can live up to three years. Chipmunks hibernate during the winter and appear in the early spring.
Chipmunks prefer habitats of low-lying bushes and ground cover, but can also be found in open woods. Although chipmunks are mostly terrestrial, they can climb trees and other surfaces to forage for food. Chipmunks forage away from their burrows, seeking slugs, snakes, insects, nuts, seeds, berries, fruits, mushrooms, flower bulbs, and other nutritional plant products. Seeds that fall from bird feeders also attract chipmunks.
Chipmunks
live a solitary, diurnal life except during mating and while raising young.
Adult chipmunks can establish territories ranging from ¼ to ½ acre,
but usually only defend a 50-foot area around their burrow entrance.
Burrows can be extensive, often 30 feet or more in length.
On the average, 2 to 4 chipmunks are found per acre, but under
optimal conditions offering plenty of food and shelter, 10 chipmunks per
acre is possible.
Control
Because chipmunks are territorial, watch them during the early morning or late afternoon to determine possible food sources and burrow locations. Entrances to burrows are normally about 2 inches in diameter. If possible, exclude chipmunks from tool sheds and other structures, screen off burrows, and fill in burrows under concrete slabs. In addition, eliminate protective harborages such as woodpiles and overgrown ground cover to discourage chipmunk activity.
Live traps and snap traps can eliminate chipmunk populations in unwanted areas. To reduce trap avoidance, pre-bait and immobilize trigger mechanisms for several days before activating the traps. Cover snap traps with a box with holes cut out of the ends to allow only rodent access and prevent birds, pets, children and other non-targets from setting off the trap. Live traps must be checked often to remove captured animals. The selection of trap type depends on whether non-target species and small children are present in the area.
In
general, pesticides are not recommended for chipmunk control.
Regardless of control techniques, dead animals should be handled
with gloved hands or picked up with tongs.
(Courtesy of the National Pest Control Association.)