11 Amazing Facts About Chipmunks

From Alvin and the Chipmunks to Disney’s Chip and Dale, these little rodents have been portrayed as some of the most endearing creatures in cartoons. Here are 11 fascinating insights into what real chipmunks are like.

1. Chipmunks are a type of squirrel.

While you may find them far cuter than their larger, bushy-tailed relatives, chipmunks are technically also squirrels. They belong to the squirrel family, Sciuridae, which includes prairie dogs, woodchucks, and marmots. As the smallest member of this family, chipmunks are likely so adorable because of their petite size.

2. The term Chipmunk likely originates from an Ojibwa word.

As per the Oxford English Dictionary, the word chipmunk comes from the Ojibwa term ajidamoo, which originally referred to the American red squirrel, not a chipmunk species. Other early versions of the word included chitmunk, chipminck, chipmonk, chipmuck, and chipmuk.

The French word for chipmunk is tamia, reflecting the animal's genus, Tamias. In Quebec, however, the striped creature is sometimes called un suisse, meaning a Swiss, which is thought to be inspired by the striped uniforms worn by the Pope’s Swiss Guard.

3. The stripes on chipmunks may play a role in their survival.

A 2016 study revealed that a pigment-suppressing gene is likely responsible for the stripes found on the Eastern chipmunk and four-striped grass mouse. Since chipmunks and mice diverged from their shared ancestor around 70 million years ago, this could be an example of convergent evolution—where unrelated organisms develop similar traits (like how humans and koalas both have fingerprints). The research indicates that both species, being active during the day, may have developed stripes as camouflage to help evade daytime predators.

4. Chipmunks are introverted, in their own way.

Chipmunks aren’t particularly social: they construct individual burrows and prefer solitude. However, they might all occupy the same area if the conditions—food, water, and space—are right. In fact, as many as 30 chipmunks could share a single acre of woodland. Naturally, they do come together during mating season in the spring.

5. Chipmunks have distinct warning calls for different types of predators.

Even though they prefer solitude, chipmunks alert others nearby when danger is near. In fact, research has suggested that woodchucks also listen to these warnings—and chipmunks tend to respond to woodchuck alerts more often.

When the threat is on the ground—such as a snake, fox, raccoon, or other creatures—the chipmunk lets out a series of high-pitched sounds known as “chips.” However, when the threat is an aerial predator like a hawk or owl, the chipmunk produces much lower-pitched noises called “chucks.”

6. Chipmunks hibernate, but not in the same way as bears.

As seen in Katmai National Park’s annual Fat Bear Week, bears gain significant weight before hibernating, relying on their fat reserves during the winter when food is scarce. While chipmunks hibernate as well, they don’t bulk up for it. Instead, they gather seeds and nuts in their burrows and wake up periodically to eat.

7. Chipmunks aren’t particular about their diet.

A chipmunk’s diet goes beyond just seeds and nuts. These omnivorous rodents also feast on fungi, fruit, insects, worms, tubers, flower buds, and snails. They don’t shy away from snatching a bird egg or even a newborn baby bird when the opportunity arises.

8. Chipmunks have remarkably spacious cheeks.

Similar to other ground squirrels (and even hamsters, monkeys, and platypuses), chipmunks can pack a lot into their expandable cheek pouches. According to National Geographic, the pouch can sometimes hold enough to equal the chipmunk’s own body weight. Biologist Bernd Heinrich tested this out when he found a roadkill chipmunk and stuffed its cheeks with sunflower seeds—he managed to fit about 60 seeds per cheek.

9. All but one species of chipmunks are found in North America.

Out of the 25 recognized chipmunk species, 24 are native to North America. The only exception is the Siberian chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus), which is found across Russia and eastern Asia. In the 1960s, people in parts of Europe began keeping Siberian chipmunks as pets, and they eventually made their way into the wild there. Since the Siberian chipmunk can carry ticks that spread Lyme disease, Europe has since designated it as an invasive species.

10. In some states, owning a chipmunk as a pet is illegal.

Chipmunks may not be as popular as dogs or axolotls when it comes to pets, but they are technically allowed in some states, such as Florida, New Jersey, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. In Oregon, they’re legal as long as you obtain a Prohibited Species Permit first. However, in states like Arizona, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, chipmunks are on the "illegal" list.

11. Chipmunks can contract the plague.

Plague—which includes the bubonic plague and a few rarer strains—is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, transmitted by fleas from rodent hosts to other animals (and humans). It’s not limited to rats: Prairie dogs, squirrels, voles, rabbits, chipmunks, and other rodents can carry it, too. In August 2021, certain parts of Lake Tahoe were temporarily closed after chipmunks in the area tested positive for the bubonic plague. While the disease can now be treated with antibiotics if caught early, it’s not something to panic about. However, it’s wise to steer clear of wild rodents and consult a doctor if you develop flu-like symptoms after hiking or camping.