Blue Ridge Country - July/August 2018 - 20

C R E AT U R E F E AT U R E

SHOWING ITS

Stripes

Chipmunks causing structural damage? That's just a myth, says one national wildlife expert.
By NANCY HENDERSON

KEEPING
THE
CRITTERS
AWAY
Still worried chipmunks might harm
your landscape? Here
are a few steps you
can take:
* Keep them away
from foundations,
sidewalks or porches
with wire mesh.
* Remove wood or
rock piles where the
animals tend to hang
out.
* Trim back plantings
or switch to daffodil
or allium bulbs, which
chipmunks don't generally like.
* Use a commercial
repellant designated
for squirrels.
* Hang bird feeders
where chipmunks
can't reach them,
rake up spilled seeds,
or choose a type that
isn't attractive to
them, such as thistle.
Sunflower, on the
other hand, is one of
their favorites. -NH

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ecently, when John Griffin read "How got the perfect chipmunk habitat.
Chipmunk Got His Stripes" to his little
"In general, the way we manage our landscape
girl, he was reminded just how cute the helps chipmunks in many ways," says Griffin.
tan-and-black critters are. In the story,
While some homeowners freak out at the
an adaptation of an Iroquois legend, thought of critters digging elaborate tunnels near
Bear brags that he can stop the sun their houses, the reality is that the diameter-usufrom rising. When Brown Squirrel, as ally no more than two inches-isn't large enough
he is called in the modernized children's book, to undermine manmade structures or decimate
won't stop teasing Bear, Bear swipes at the chat- crops, Griffin asserts. The chipmunk's two-part
terbox, leaving permanent stripes with his claws.
burrowing system, however, is impressive, with
"It's meant to instruct people not to make fun a shallow, sometimes temporary, tunnel leading
of others," Griffin says. "It's a very interesting to a single chamber and a second, more complex
little story."
network stretching up to 30 feet long, and three
What's also interesting, says Griffin, director feet down, with multiple openings that are usually
of urban wildlife for the Humane Society of the hidden from humans. Unlike true hibernators, in
United States, is that people ofwinter chipmunks fall into a torpor
ten contact his office about chipfrom which they wake every couHumane Society Director of
Urban Wildlife John Griffin:
munk sightings, worried the rople of weeks to nibble on the food
"There's not really a negative
dents will damage their homes.
they've stored in their chambers.
consequence to having
Nothing could be farther
They breed twice, once in spring
them around."
from the truth, he insists.
and again in summer, giving birth
"We get a lot of calls
to four or five babies each time. Alabout chipmunks and it's acthough they remain close to home, they aren't
tually one of the urban species
apt to overpopulate like some animals.
of wildlife that doesn't
"Most people don't know they are actureally cause that much
ally there unless they see them physically
of a problem," says Grifscurrying across the yard in that kind
fin. "It's more the perof happy, joyful way that they do,"
ception of what they are
Griffin says. "There's not really a
doing, because people don't
negative consequence to havknow. I don't know of any
ing them around."
documented case where a chipmunk burrow has actually caused
structural damage."
Like its squirrel cousin, what this little
rodent can do is dig up spring flower bulbs. It
can also leave holes in the garden or near sidewalks. Chipmunks are attracted to yards with
decks, stone walls and pavers, especially if there
are nearby wooded areas or other sources of
nuts. Add a bird feeder or two and you've

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Blue Ridge Country - July/August 2018

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