Simon, Alvin, Theodore? Chipmunks are well recognised for their cute stripy appearance and cheeky na...

1. Keeping Chipmunks as Pets
Simon, Alvin, Theodore? Chipmunks are well recognised for their cute stripy appearance and cheeky
nature, resulting in an ever increasing popularity as pets. However new owners often find
themselves unprepared for the reality of keeping these beautiful and intelligent creatures. There are
several key aspects discussed here that are commonly unknown and unexpected. If not properly
addressed these issues can result in a stressful and unrewarding relationship between human and
animal. However given the correct information, chipmunks are easy to care for and affectionate
pets.
Beware the Pet Store
Large chain pet stores are routinely incompetent in chipmunk care and distribute inaccurate
information to potential owners. Carefully chosen animals are unlikely to be the ones received, given
standard practice for capture is the wild swinging of a net until something becomes trapped. It is
then not a wonder that whichever animals are taken home, are rather nervous from the outset!
The best method of choosing a chipmunk is to approach a private breeder claiming hand tamed
animals. The animals should be viewed interacting with people and stress free capture should be
easy if the claims are true.
Chipmunks Require Space
Pet shops are also known to sell oblivious new owners cages approximately 3ft high by 2ft square,
containing a bulky wooden sleeping box taking up the majority of the space, plus food and water
bottles. To the unknowing this looks sufficient, comparable to similar sized pets like hamsters. This
is a colossal mistake. Chipmunks need a lot of space and plenty of exercise. When kept indoors the
owner must be prepared to secure a room in order to let them out for exercise. They will hide food,
chew everything, conceal themselves in the smallest of holes, and manage to escape when doors are
opened.

2. With such a lengthy and difficult process of releasing animals inside, many soon end up being kept
prisoner in a cage far too small for them. This will become annoyingly evident by the repeated 'klunk
klunk klunk' of their bored running round a corner of the cage. A better quality of life can be
achieved by keeping the animals outdoors.
Aviary Advantages
Chipmunks should ideally be outdoors in a large aviary and are happy in all weather, semi-hibernating
if required for a few days at a time, during the winter months. The aviary should have
indoor sleeping quarters and an outdoor double wired area (with a gap between) to prevent injuries
from curious cats, as chipmunks run flat to the wire. The floor must be solid as they are naturally
burrowing animals, another easy mistake resulting from a lack of information. The floor should be
laid with untreated woodchip. Chipmunks need vast space to exercise, but also these intelligent
creaturesneed entertainment. Runways of tree branches, large cardboard tubes, bits of pipe, ropes
and rope ladders are all popular.
An aviary rarely needs to be cleaned out as waste will naturally wash away or decompose. Nesting
boxes should be cleaned out every six months probably revealing inches of stored food. Specialist
food mix is a perfect base diet, containing maize, peanuts, sunflower seeds, wheat, and pine kernels.
Chipmunks however will eat almost anything and do like variety. A wide range of fruit, vegetables,
garden weeds, insects, chicken and even peelings and leftovers from human meals are all much
appreciated.
Time Equals Tame
Most new owners would like to interact with their pets. The biggest advantage of the outdoor setup
is the owner can go into their environment, fundamental for hand taming.
With plenty of time and patience chipmunks form close bonds with their owners. They will happily
jump and sit on humans, venture inside sleeves and appear out of collars and curl up to sleep inside
soft pockets. It should be possible to easily pick up, stroke, cuddle, and hand feed tame chipmunks.
To conclude, given time and patience, chipmunks are rewarding pets that are easy and cheap to
keep once the initial setup is established.