11 Chipmunk Facts About the Cheeky Creature

When exploring our ecosystem, we might come across chipmunks, like the eastern chipmunks or western chipmunks. Upon learning about chipmunk behavior through this list of chipmunk facts, we can learn about their significant impact on the environment. 

Chipmunks can make burrow systems extending up to 3.5 meters in length. They also eat bird eggs and collect acorns; sometimes, they poke around bird feeders! This acorn collection and storage process helps disperse seeds of various tree species around a chipmunk's habitat. These chipmunk facts show that even the smallest tiny rodents help maintain our planet's ecosystems.

Related: Read up on its rodent relative in our squirrel facts, for more cheeky ways. (Like prairie dogs, chipmunks are also in the squirrel family!)

Top 11 Chipmunk Facts

1. Chipmunks prefer to live alone.

The common perception of a standard 'chipmunk' is often based on just one of many chipmunk species: the Eastern Chipmunk, just one of the 25 species recognized by scientists. It is also undoubtedly one of the most familiar in North America.

Chipmunks belong to the family Sciuridae and the genus Tamias. Also known as striped squirrels, chipmunks prefer solitude over social interactions with their peers. Each chipmunk establishes its territory: a hunting ground, nesting area, and refuge.

Chipmunks use scent glands on their cheeks to mark their territories. They rub against trees, rocks, and other objects. This behavior helps deter competition for resources and ward off predators.

While chipmunks may interact during mating season, they are generally aggressive toward intruders entering their territory. As a result, chipmunks can engage in high-speed chases, disputes, and territorial battles.

Moreover, each chipmunk defends its burrow system, a complex network of tunnels and chambers for various purposes.

2. Chipmunks have several natural predators.

Another chipmunk fact is that the chipmunks' size and terrestrial lifestyle make them vulnerable to larger air or ground predators².

For example, birds of prey, such as owls and hawks, hunt down chipmunks during their regular forages. Meanwhile, land-based predators like foxes, coyotes, and weasels can easily breach the chipmunks' underground dwellings. Even domesticated cats and dogs can prey on these tiny creatures. 

Wildcats, raccoons, and snakes have also developed specialized hunting techniques for chipmunks. However, chipmunks have evolved speed, agility, and heightened awareness of their surroundings, enabling them to escape into burrows, the undergrowth, or trees. 

3. Chipmunks store food in their cheeks.

Like many ground squirrels, chipmunks' cheek pouches can fit many items. Their cheek pouches can stretch to three times the size of their heads, allowing for quick food collection and minimizing exposure to predators.

Contrary to popular assumptions, chipmunks are not picky eaters; their diet is remarkably varied and balanced. While their primary sustenance includes nuts, seeds, fruits, and plant materials, they have also been known to consume insects and even small creatures like baby birds when other food sources are scarce.

During the warm months, chipmunks fall back on this portable pantry to store up to 165 acorns a day, preparing for the winter. Moreover, these pouches can also carry bedding materials. 

4. Chipmunks build and live in burrows.

Beneath rocks, trees, or bushes, chipmunks create an elaborate underground system. These burrows can extend up to 30 feet long and consist of multiple chambers, each with a specific function.

First is the nesting chamber, lined with soft materials like grass, leaves, and fur. This chamber is a warm and cozy sanctuary where chipmunks warm up during the winter and cool off in the summer. Likewise, It is where they rest and hide from predators.

Chipmunks also stock seeds and nuts in their burrow's food storage chambers. During the winter, these chambers help chipmunks survive until spring. Moreover, they semi-hibernate during this period, waking up occasionally to consume their stored food.

Waste chambers are another section of chipmunk burrows. These chambers help keep their living space clean and free from disease.

The chipmunk burrow also has multiple exits, which are emergency routes to escape predators. The strategically placed entrances and exits confuse and outwit possible threats.

5. Chipmunks hibernate in the winter.

Unlike other animals that hibernate during winter, chipmunks spend the cold months in a state of torpor where they take loads of naps. This behavior is similar to hibernation but not precisely the same³.

In the fall, chipmunks collect nuts and seeds to stock their burrows for the winter months. These burrows become larders, which they use when the forest becomes too cold for foraging. 

During torpor, the chipmunk's body goes into power-saving mode; its heart rate, respiration, and body temperature drop dramatically, similar to a thermostat setting. However, chipmunks remain warmer than true hibernators despite this drop in temperature. 

Through torpor, the chipmunk can conserve energy while still being able to wake up for a quick snack from their pantry.

Related read: Do Squirrels Hibernate? And What Do They Get Up To In Winter?

6. Chipmunks can swim.

One surprising chipmunk fact is that chipmunks can swim. When choosing between crossing a creek or facing a predator, chipmunks dive into the water and paddle through it. Their short legs and bushy tails help them navigate and avoid obstacles.

However, chipmunks cannot swim for long, and their fur is not waterproof. They only swim when necessary. However, chipmunks are born with this instinct and do not require any teaching¹. 

7. Chipmunks use various alarm calls.

Chipmunk calls are coded messages transmitted through the environment. Their calls are a crucial lifeline for the survival of chipmunks, creating a symphony of communication. Moreover, each sound has a specific meaning, like alerting others to potential danger in the area.

The alarm calls of chipmunks involve a range of pitches and durations. Some calls involve high-pitched, rapid chirps that warn about predatory birds. In contrast, others are deeper and more drawn-out, signaling threats from terrestrial predators such as foxes or snakes to other chipmunks. 

In addition, mother chipmunks pass down the ability to recognize and respond to each call to their offspring. 

8. Chipmunks follow unique mating behaviors.

Chipmunk mating behavior involves scent signals, chases, and vocalizations. Male chipmunks rely on their sense of smell to track down female chipmunks who are ready to mate. During the mating season, typically in spring and summer, chipmunk territories become active and noisy.

The male chipmunk emits high-pitched calls to attract potential mates, while females respond with softer calls. Additionally, female chipmunks become protective of their territories and defend them to ensure the safety of the baby chipmunks.

9. Only one chipmunk species lives outside the Americas.

The Siberian chipmunk is unique among the 25 known species of chipmunks because it is the only one that lives outside North America. While North American chipmunks live in various environments, including forests, deserts, and suburban areas, the Siberian chipmunk has adapted to environments on the other side of the world.

True to its name, the Siberian chipmunk lives in northern Asia and parts of China, North Korea, Mongolia, and the vast plains of Russia. How did this cheeky rodent get there? In the 1960s, the opening of trade routes led to people introducing chipmunks to Europe. 

Some Europeans kept them as domestic pets while the rest escaped or got released, establishing themselves in new territories.

Today, Siberian chipmunks are found in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Over the years, the Siberian chipmunk has adapted to European forests and urban environments like city parks.

10. Chipmunks are pretty famous

Chipmunks have played a surprisingly influential role in popular culture, adding a touch of whimsy and charm to various forms of media.

Perhaps the most beloved example of chipmunks in pop culture is the dynamic duo known as "Chip and Dale." Introduced by Disney in the 1940s, Chip and Dale are distinguished by their mischievous antics and endearing personalities.

Moreover, no discussion of chipmunks in pop culture would be complete without mentioning "Alvin and the Chipmunks," the music-minded trio that burst onto the scene in the late 1950s. Their high-pitched songs and the antics of Alvin, Simon, and Theodore have entertained young and old alike.

11. Chipmunk populations are stable.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has placed chipmunks on the "Least Concern" list, indicating their stable populations. Despite urban development, deforestation, and predators, chipmunks have adapted to various habitats.

Although conservation efforts for chipmunks are less popular than those for other species, localized initiatives are working to protect their habitats, particularly in areas vulnerable to city expansion. Moreover, with the threat of climate change, monitoring chipmunk populations is crucial in promptly identifying and responding to potential threats.

What are your favorite chipmunk facts? Share it on your social media feeds, and tag us!

Related: To further explore the animal kingdom, check out some of the other animals that start with C.