What to do if you find an injured or orphaned chipmunk in North Carolina

Help, I found a chipmunk, do this FIRST!

Please be extremely mindful of their extreme speed and high bite risk.

What to do RIGHT NOW:

Contact us immediately! Call or text CWCC right away at (980)389-1133 (leave a voicemail or text a photo for faster response)
DO NOT FEED OR GIVE WATER
ALWAYS wear thick gloves or have a thick towel. Chipmunks have incredibly sharp teeth and WILL bite out of intense fear.
Place the animal(s) in a SECURE, tightly sealed, well ventilated container (like a plastic bin with tiny air holes). They can squeeze through shockingly small gaps!
Keep them in a warm, dark, and completely quiet space away from pets and children.

What NOT to do:

DO NOT HANDLE THEM WITH BARE HANDS. A panicked chipmunk can bite deep into fingers in a split second.
DO NOT offer food or water
DO NOT leave them in an open or loosely covered box. Chipmunks are master escape artists and can chew through flimsy material quickly.
DO NOT assume a baby chipmunk is just “exploring”. Because they are underground dwellers, a baby alone above ground means something has gone very wrong.

Getting the animal to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator as quickly as possible is critical to giving them the best chance at survival and eventual release back into the wild.

When does a chipmunk need help?

Unlike tree squirrels, which are frequently climbing up and down trunks as juveniles, Eastern Chipmunks raise their young deep underground.

A chipmunk requires immediate emergency intervention if:

They have been in a dog or cat's mouth, bacteria from pet saliva is fatal to small rodents within hours. They need professional antibiotics immediately, even if there are no visible wounds.
It is a baby found completely alone or above ground. If their underground burrow gets flooded, dug up by predators, or the mother is lost, the babies will wander out to the surface in a desperate search for help.
They are cold, lethargic, or shivering.
They are covered in fleas, fly eggs, or ants.
They show clear signs of injury, such as bleeding, dragging their hind legs, or head tilting.

IMPORTANT safety information

Use a towel or gloves- To safely contain a chipmunk, toss a small, lightweight towel or fleece blanket over them to block their vision and slow them down. Wear heavy leather garden gloves to scoop up the towel wrapped animal(s).
Secure the lid tightly - You want to ensure the temporary transport box is completely secure. A shoe box with a loose lid is NOT enough, you would need to tape the edges securely while ensuring there is an adequate amount of ventilation holes.
BEWARE OF FAST MOVEMENTS. Chipmunks move with erratic, explosive speed. Keep the container low to the ground while transferring them to prevent accidental escapes or high drops.

What happens after you call?

Our dedicated team will evaluate the situation. We will likely ask for a quick photo or video of the chipmunk to check its age and injury severity.

We will walk you through safe handling or transport methods so you don’t risk getting bitten.

If the chipmunk needs to come in, we will coordinate with you for an immediate drop off at our facility so it can receive life saving medical care.

Chipmunks on your property?

Chipmunks are vital to our forest ecosystems because they inadvertently plant native trees and spread healthy fungi through their underground foraging. They can tunnel anywhere from 3 to 10 feet deep to build their homes!

If you have chipmunks digging under a porch or garden bed where they aren’t welcome, please DO NOT use glue traps or poisons. Glue traps cause agonizing, slow deaths and poisons move up the food chain and kill a variety of other animals including owls, hawks, and foxes that naturally keep rodent populations in balance. Instead, try natural deterrents like scattering cayenne pepper, planting pungent garlic to gently encourage them to move their burrow elsewhere.

Chipmunk glossary

Pup, Kit, Pinkie: The names used for baby chipmunks. “Pinkies” refers to newborn pups that are completely hairless, blind, and vulnerable.

Burrow: The complex systems of underground tunnels where chipmunks sleep, store massive amounts of food, raise their young, and hibernate during the winter.

Cheek Pouches: Expandable pockets inside a chipmunk's cheeks that can stretch to the size of their entire head. They use these built-in grocery bags to carry seeds, nuts, and nesting material deep underground without dropping them.

Diurnal: Animals that are awake and active during the day and sleep at night. Unlike crepuscular rabbits, chipmunks love the bright, warm sunshine.