Thinking about getting a chipmunk as a pet? You probably wonder if they’re safe and easy to care for.
Chipmunks really aren’t safe or suitable to keep as pets. They’re wild animals with specific needs and behaviors that most people can’t meet at home. Plus, they can carry diseases that might harm you or your other pets.
Sure, chipmunks look adorable, but they don’t adapt well to being handled or living indoors. Their instincts make them nervous and easily stressed.
If you want to keep a chipmunk, you’ll need to put in special effort to create a space that feels like their natural habitat. It’s worth thinking carefully about these challenges before you bring one home.
Are Chipmunks Safe to Pet?
Chipmunks might be small and cute, but keeping one as a pet brings some real risks and challenges. You need to consider health risks, chipmunk behavior, and legal rules before making a decision.
Dangers and Health Risks of Chipmunk Ownership
Chipmunks can carry diseases and bacteria that spread to humans. They rarely have rabies, but their bites or droppings can still cause infections.
Try not to touch wild chipmunks directly. Even pet chipmunks get stressed easily, which weakens their immune system and can make them sick.
If your chipmunk stops eating, seems tired, or looks scruffy, you should take them to a vet right away. Their teeth never stop growing, so you’ll need to give them chew toys like cuttlefish bones to keep their teeth healthy.
Behavior and Handling Considerations
Chipmunks are quick, nervous, and usually dislike being handled. If they feel scared, they might bite or scratch.
Handle them gently and only when you really need to. It’s best to let them explore on their own and give them places to hide.
They need space to climb, dig, and hide to feel safe. If you keep a chipmunk, you’ll need a big, secure enclosure with lots of hiding spots and toys.
Without enough space and stimulation, chipmunks can get aggressive or start pacing and over-grooming. It’s not easy to keep them happy indoors.
Legal Restrictions and Ethical Concerns
In some places, like the EU, owning chipmunks is illegal. You might be allowed to keep one you already have, but buying or breeding new ones isn’t allowed.
Authorities consider some chipmunks, like Siberian chipmunks, invasive species in certain regions. If people release or breed them, it can hurt local wildlife.
Think about whether a chipmunk really fits your home and lifestyle. They’re wild animals and probably won’t ever fully adapt to being pets.
If you decide to keep one, you must provide the right environment and avoid harming wild populations by acquiring or releasing chipmunks illegally.
For more care tips, check out how to care for pet chipmunks.
Essential Care Requirements for Pet Chipmunks
To keep a pet chipmunk healthy, you need to pay attention to its living space, diet, social needs, and health. You’ll want to create a natural-feeling environment, offer a balanced diet, provide mental stimulation, and watch for any signs of illness.
Housing and Environment Needs
Your chipmunk needs a large, secure cage to move around. Try to get a space as big as a large aviary.
Use solid floors with dust-free bedding like wood shavings or shredded paper. Don’t use wire mesh flooring—it can hurt their feet.
Add branches, ropes, and tunnels for climbing and digging. Nest boxes filled with shredded paper or hay make cozy resting spots.
Hollow logs or pipes work as hiding places, so your chipmunk can feel safe when startled. Keep their area quiet and away from loud noises, strong smells, and other pets.
Chipmunks get stressed easily, so a calm spot is best.
Proper Nutrition and Diet
Feed your chipmunk a varied, healthy diet. About half of their food can be cereals—think oats, wheat, barley, and corn.
Offer unsalted seeds and nuts like pine nuts. Give small amounts of fresh fruits and veggies—apples, bananas, carrots, sweet potatoes—but always remove any pits or stones.
Put a cuttlefish bone in the cage for calcium and to help wear down their teeth. Make sure they always have fresh, clean water.
Check the drinking bottle twice a day for leaks or clogs. Don’t feed them seed-based rodent pellets—these aren’t right for chipmunks.
Remove any uneaten fresh food every day to avoid spoilage.
Socialization and Enrichment
Chipmunks can be shy and usually don’t like handling at first. Use slow, gentle movements to help them get used to you.
Regular interaction helps build trust, but don’t chase or scare them. Most chipmunks prefer to live alone, but Siberian chipmunks sometimes do okay in pairs or small groups if you introduce them carefully.
Always provide several hiding places and nest boxes so each chipmunk has its own space. Give lots of toys, tunnels, and climbing structures to keep your chipmunk busy.
Boredom can lead to stress and bad habits, so swap out toys often and offer new challenges.
Health Problems and Veterinary Care
Take a few minutes every day to check on your chipmunk. Are their eyes clear? Is the fur shiny? Are they eating and drinking like usual?
If you spot discharge from the nose, labored breathing, wet fur around the mouth, weight loss, or unusual tiredness, that’s a red flag.
Chipmunks can get respiratory infections, dental issues, parasites, and sometimes stress can really mess them up. Only use medicine that a vet who knows chipmunks has prescribed—don’t try human meds or stuff for other pets.
To keep their teeth in good shape, toss in chew items like a cuttlefish bone. Take a peek at their teeth every week and watch for overgrowth.
Notice anything off about their behavior or health? Don’t wait—call the vet.
If you’re heading out of town, leave clear care instructions with someone you trust who actually gets what chipmunks need. That way, your little buddy stays safe and healthy even while you’re away.
Want more info? Check out RSPCA’s chipmunk care guide for tips on giving your pet a good home and diet.
