Chipmunk Removal and Control

Before you start chipmunk removal and control it is important for you to understand a little more about this little critter.

The home range of a chipmunk may be up to 1/2 acre (0.2 ha). Defending this area is done only by the adults. They will defend a territory of about 50 feet (15.2 m) around the burrow entrance. We find most Chipmunks are active during the early morning and late afternoon.

The Chipmunk burrows often are well-hidden near objects or buildings. They use objects like stumps, wood piles or brush piles, basements, and garages. Their burrow entrance is usually about 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter. They leave no obvious mounds of dirt around the entrance. They carry the excess dirt in it’s cheeks and spread it around the burrow. This makes the burrow entrance less conspicuous.

In most cases, the chipmunk’s main tunnel is 20 to 30 feet (6 m to 9 m) in length, but complex burrow systems occur where cover is sparse. Their burrow systems normally include a nesting chamber, and one or two food storage chambers.  They will also have various side pockets connected to the main tunnel, and separate escape tunnels.

With the onset of cold weather, the chipmunk enters a restless hibernation and are relatively inactive from late fall through the winter months. Chipmunks do not enter a deep hibernation as do ground squirrels, but rely on the cache of food they have brought to their burrow. Some individuals become active on warm, sunny days during the winter. Most chipmunks emerge from hibernation in early March.

Chipmunk pups appear above ground when they are 4 to 6 weeks old–2/3 the size of an adult. Young will leave the burrow at 6 to 8 weeks.