As someone who’s spent years dealing with these furry little critters, let me tell you, squirrels and chipmunks might seem similar but they’re as different as night and day. Sure, chipmunks are members of the squirrel family, Sciuridae, but that’s where the similarities end.
While they might be neighbors in the grand scheme of things, sharing the family tree with prairie dogs, woodchucks, and marmots, these two are like distant cousins who don’t really get along. And trust me, when they decide to make your property their playground, you’ll want to know exactly who you’re dealing with.
Whether you’re a homeowner trying to keep your yard in check or just someone who’s curious about the squirrel world, this inside scoop is going to be your guide to navigating the Squirrels vs. Chipmunks showdown. So buckle up, it’s about to get wild.
Differences Between Their Appearance
The most common variety of squirrels in North America is the Eastern gray squirrel. Rather than being gray, their coat is a mixture of blacks, whites, and browns and have a bushy tail. They generally grow to around 18 to 20 inches long and weigh around a pound-and-a-half. There are other species of squirrels, like red squirrels, fox squirrels, black squirrels, and flying squirrels, but they are much less common.
The most common species of chipmunks in North America are the Eastern chipmunk. These chipmunks are tan-colored with five prominent black or dark-brown stripes running down their sides and back. They have light-colored underbellies and brown feet. In contrast to the larger squirrel, chipmunks grow to 8 to 10 inches and weigh around 2 and 1/2 to 4 ounces.
Chipmunks have distinct stripes, so you’ll never mistake them for a squirrel. On the other hand, squirrels lack stripes and are significantly larger.
Differences Between Their Habitat
Squirrels and chipmunks can live in the same type of habitat, but prefer different things. Squirrels can survive in forests, open woodlands, parklands, suburban settings, and even densely populated urban environments such as New York City.
Squirrels usually live in holes left in trees by woodpeckers, expanding them as they see fit. Their nests contain twigs, leaves, moss, and other materials, and they prefer to live high up in trees.
While chipmunks live in woodland, parkland, suburban, and urban areas like squirrels, their optimal habitat is deciduous woodlands that contain a lot of stumps and logs.
The reason for this is chipmunks typically live in burrows in the ground, some of which can become a complex system of tunnels and food storage areas. They usually have a central nest filled with leaves and moss.
Read more: Learn how to get rid of chipmunks.
Differences Between Their Diets
Chipmunks tend to be a bit more adventurous with food compared to squirrels, when it comes to diet. The primary diet of most squirrels is “mast” (the fruit and nuts of trees).
They prefer acorns from oak trees and nuts from beech trees and hickories. Squirrels also eat other types of food, such as mushrooms, flowers and buds, and plant shoots. They don’t hibernate and remain active all winter, relying on their fat reserves and mast stores to survive the cold season.
Chipmunks, on the other hand, are omnivorous. They’ll eat just about anything, including garden vegetables, berries, fruit, roots, corn, seeds, and mushrooms. They use their cheek pouches to store food and transport it to their dens. They’ll also eat insects, earthworms, snails, bird’s eggs, frogs, salamanders, small snakes, young birds, and mice.
From mid-summer to October, chipmunks gather as much food as possible, storing it in their burrows. Although their hibernation is not like a bear, they go into a state of torpor, fluctuating back and forth between sleep and grogginess when they eat their stored food supplies.
The main dietary difference is that squirrels focus on tree mast like acorns and nuts, while chipmunks are omnivorous and eat various foods, including insects and small animals. Both gather and cache food for the winter months.
Read more: Learn how to get rid of squirrels.
Differences Between Reproduction
Squirrels mate twice a year — once around January, with a litter born sometime in March, then in May or June, with the litter born in July or August. A third mating may take place when food is particularly abundant that year.
Chipmunks have a similar mating cycle, breeding in early spring and again in mid-summer if food supplies permit. The gestation period for chipmunks is 31 days, and they give birth to litters of four to five young.
Both squirrels and chipmunks can have two to three litters per year under optimal conditions. The main difference is that chipmunk litters are smaller, while squirrels may have up to eight young.
Differences Between Their Lifespans
In the wild, ground squirrels and tree squirrels typically live around six years, while chipmunks average two to three years. With ideal habitat conditions and no predators, squirrels may reach 10 to 12 years and chipmunks five to six years.
Domesticated squirrels kept as pets often exceed 12 years. In optimal circumstances, squirrels generally outlive chipmunks by several years.
Differences Between Known Predators
Squirrels and chipmunks share many of the same natural predators. Hawks, owls, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, snakes, weasels, martens, and other mammals prey on both species.
However, squirrels have an advantage that chipmunks lack — the ability to escape by jumping and climbing trees. Since chipmunks aren’t good climbers like squirrels, chipmunks are more vulnerable to land-bound predators like foxes, coyotes, raccoons, and snakes.
So, while they share many of the same predators, chipmunks are more prone to land predation due to their inability to climb trees.
Differences Between Their Destructive Traits
Both squirrels and chipmunks can cause damage around homes by digging under porches or decks or nesting in attics. However, squirrels are more prone to entering houses in search of shelter.
Regarding gardens and landscaping, squirrels cause more damage by digging up flower bulbs and eating growing plants. Chipmunks focus more on seeds and fruits.
Squirrels also aggressively harvest mast from trees, sometimes stripping branches and hampering nut production. They’re also more likely than chipmunks to chew on outdoor fixtures, wires, and infrastructure.
So when it comes to being a nuisance around homes, squirrels tend to be more problematic due to their burrowing habits and tree mast foraging.
Differences in Vocalizations
Squirrels and chipmunks also differ significantly in the vocalizations and sounds they make. Their calls serve various purposes, like raising alarms, communicating with their young, or expressing excitement over food finds.
Squirrels have a fairly extensive range of vocalizations they use. Some of their most common sounds include:
- Kuks – A nasal barking noise used as an alarm call when predators are near
- Quaas – A long, drawn-out repeated nasal call also used to warn others of danger
- Mucks – Soft grunting noises made when squirrels are foraging or engaging in courtship
- Kucks – Loud, raspy territorial calls made by male squirrels
- Screeches – Loud, high-pitched screaming sounds given when a squirrel is in distress
In contrast, chipmunks have relatively simple vocal patterns consisting mostly of high-pitched chips and chucks. Their key vocalizations are:
- Chips – A short “chip” or “chuck” sound used as an all-purpose call
- Chipping Trills – A rapid series of chips made as an alarm when predators are detected
- Chucks – Deeper “chuck” sounds used during aggressive encounters between chipmunks
So while squirrels use a wide variety of calls and noises for different situations, chipmunks rely mainly on variations of high-pitched chipping noises. The richer vocal repertoire of squirrels allows for more complex communication within their social groups.
Differences in Pest Control Methods
For both squirrels and chipmunks, exclusion is the first line of defense. Sealing off entry points to the home with wire mesh, caulk, or other materials can prevent pest infestations.
Trapping and removal may be required once they gain access. For chipmunks, baiting with peanuts or sunflower seeds works well. Squirrels are more difficult to trap and may need more pungent bait.
Finally, population management through habitat modification can make a property less attractive. For squirrels, this includes removing birdfeeders and trimming back branches. For chipmunks, remove rock piles, brush, and log debris near the home.
So, while exclusion and trapping are effective for both, bait and habitat preferences differ slightly between these rodents.
So, Are Squirrels and Chipmunks the Same?
While squirrels and chipmunks share a family lineage and have some similarities, they are distinctly different rodents. The most noticeable differences are in their size and markings. Squirrels lack stripes and are much larger than chipmunks.
They also differ in preferred habitats and diets. Squirrels live in trees and eat mast, while chipmunks dig burrows, and are omnivorous. In addition, squirrels tend to live longer and be more problematic around homes.
The bottom line is that squirrels and chipmunks may seem alike but have distinct traits when observed more closely. Homeowners dealing with nuisance rodents can tell them apart and control them accordingly.
Final Thoughts
While squirrels and chipmunks may seem similar as members of the Sciuridae family, this in-depth look reveals just how many differences truly exist between the two rodents.
From their distinct appearances and vocalizations to their varying diets, habitats, and life cycles, squirrels and chipmunks have adapted with their own unique traits over time. Their destructive behaviors around homes and vulnerability to predators also differ in several key ways.
As a homeowner, being able to distinguish chipmunks from squirrels is crucial for not only identifying which pest you’re dealing with, but also implementing the most effective control and prevention methods.
So, the next time you spot some scurrying activity in the yard, take a closer look. You may just discover an interesting new member of the neighborhood you never really knew before. After all, judging a rodent by its cover can lead to some surprising revelations in the squirrels vs. chipmunks showdown.
FAQs About Squirrels and Chipmunks
How can you tell the difference between a squirrel and a chipmunk?
The easiest way is by looking at their size and stripes. Chipmunks are small with prominent stripes, while squirrels are larger and lack stripes.
Do squirrels and chipmunks get along?
Squirrels and chipmunks generally ignore each other, though squirrels may prey on young chipmunks. They don’t directly compete for resources.
What is the squirrel's biggest predator?
Hawks, owls, snakes, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, and weasels all prey on squirrels. Their biggest threat comes from raptors like hawks and owls.
Do chipmunks carry disease?
Chipmunks can carry diseases like plague and pox viruses. But the risk of transmitting the disease to humans is very low.
How long do chipmunks live as pets?
Domesticated chipmunks kept as pets may live up to eight years, twice as long as in the wild. Proper diet and housing are required.
Why do squirrels destroy gardens?
Squirrels dig up newly planted bulbs and seeds in search of food. They also eat ripe fruits and vegetables. Using fencing and repellents can help deter them.
Can you get sick from chipmunk droppings?
Fresh chipmunk droppings aren’t likely to cause illness. However, accumulated old droppings in the attic may pose a health risk from bacteria.
How can I tell the difference between chipmunk burrows and squirrel nests?
Chipmunk burrows are typically found at ground level with a 2–3 inch diameter entrance hole. The burrows contain an extensive network of underground tunnels and chambers. You may see piles of dirt around the entrance from their digging.
Squirrel nests are constructed high up in tree cavities or among the branches using twigs, leaves, bark strips, and other plant materials. Look for large, spherical nests made of these natural materials wedged into tree forks or holes. Squirrel nests do not have tunnels underground.
Will a red squirrel kill a chipmunk?
While red squirrels and chipmunks don’t typically interact much due to their different habitats, there have been some reports of red squirrels killing and eating chipmunks on occasion. This is likely an opportunistic behavior when the red squirrel encounters a chipmunk, as both rodents can be territorial and aggressive toward each other. However, chipmunks are not a regular part of a red squirrel’s diet.
