Contact a wildlife rehabilitator. Do not keep the animal in your home. It is illegal to house injured/orphaned wildlife without the proper training and credentials.

What to do if you find a chipmunk?

If you find a baby chipmunk, look around closely to locate a nearby den. You will need a pair of gloves, preferably leather, but heavy winter will work. Take a small towel or washcloth outside with you and cover the chipmunk while you scoop it up in the towel. Chipmunk holes are approximately two inches in diameter.

Can you touch a chipmunk?

Chipmunks don’t generally enjoy being handled and it can be stressful for them. If you’re handling a chipmunk, avoid picking them up by their tail, as this can be painful and can injure them. Instead, gently pick them up using cupped hands.

Do chipmunks carry disease?

Common chipmunk diseases include leptospirosis, salmonella, Hantavirus, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, encephalitis, rabies, and the plague. Some of these are spread directly through contact with the pests, their feces, or their urine, while others are transmitted indirectly via ticks and fleas.

Can you pick up a chipmunk?

Never pick your chipmunks up by their tail – instead, gently pick them up using cupped hands. It’s a good idea to wear strong gloves when handling them to protect yourself from being bitten.

Are chipmunks friendly to humans?

Are chipmunks friendly? No, wild chipmunks want to stay away from humans. Because of their tiny size, they are afraid of almost everything.

Do chipmunks remember humans?

They can remember humans and can recognize the people that can be trusted as a source of food. Their memory is evident in studies where they were able to navigate a maze. Chipmunks are not social and friendly. They would not even make a good pet and always try to stay hidden.

Can you get sick from touching a chipmunk?

Certain diseases can spread from rodents to people through direct contact with infected rodents (for example, breathing in contaminated air, touching contaminated materials and then touching eyes, nose, or mouth, being bitten or scratched by an infected rodent, or eating food contaminated from an infected rodent).

Can chipmunks bite you?

Do Chipmunks Bite? While all wild animals are capable of biting when threatened, chipmunks are rarely aggressive and will most often run away from threats. When cornered or handled, however, they may scratch or bite to defend themselves.

What happens if I touch a chipmunk?

Although chipmunks are not aggressive creatures, they will bite or scratch if they are cornered or feel threatened. Since they are known to carry diseases such as plague and rabies, among other things, it is never a good idea to try to remove a chipmunk, or any other wild animal, on your own.

What happens when you relocate a chipmunk?

Note: Never trap or relocate chipmunks. You won’t affect the local population, and worse, releasing a chipmunk in a strange area will almost surely result in his or her death.

Do chipmunks carry rabies?

Small rodents (like squirrels, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, chipmunks, rats, and mice) and lagomorphs (including rabbits and hares) are almost never found to be infected with rabies and have not been known to transmit rabies to humans.

What attracts chipmunks to your house?

Yard clutter



They’re attracted to shady, cluttered yards where they can find hiding places easily. They’ll use these hiding places to creep closer to your home to find food and shelter if they can.