Chipmunks live underground, and for many species, burrows are their main home. If you have ever wondered where chipmunks live, they split time between the surface and a hidden tunnel system below it.
Chipmunks usually spend much of their lives in underground burrows, where they sleep, nest, hide food, and escape predators.
The Short Answer
The eastern chipmunk, or Tamias striatus, is one of the best-known burrowers in North America. Chipmunks use their underground homes for winter shelter, food caching, and raising young, so the burrow is much more than a simple hiding spot.
Why Underground Burrows Are Their Main Home
Chipmunks rely on burrows for nesting, storing nuts and seeds, and staying protected from weather and predators. According to Project Noah Nature School, chipmunks dig tunnel systems underground that include nesting spaces and storage pockets.
Do All Chipmunks Live Below Ground Year-Round
Not every chipmunk stays underground all year in the same way, but most depend on burrows heavily in cold months. In eastern North America, chipmunks spend much of winter underground, while warm-weather activity often takes place above ground as they forage.
Which Species Commonly Burrow
The eastern chipmunk is a classic burrower. The Siberian chipmunk also digs and uses underground tunnels.
Ground-dwelling chipmunks are well adapted for burrowing. Some species may vary in how much time they spend above ground.
What A Chipmunk Burrow Looks Like
A chipmunk burrow is usually a neat, hidden tunnel system rather than a messy hole. You may see a small opening at the surface, with several underground passages branching off to nesting, storage, and escape areas.
Entrance Size, Depth, And Tunnel Length
A chipmunk burrow entrance is usually small, often just a few inches wide, and easy to miss in grass or leaf litter. Some tunnel systems can stretch many feet.
Chipmunks may dig several feet deep, with tunnels up to 30 feet long and 3 feet deep in favorable soil.
Hidden Openings, Escape Routes, And Plunge Holes
Many chipmunk burrows have more than one opening, which gives the animal quick escape routes. A plunge hole is a steep entry point that drops into the system, and hidden exits help chipmunks avoid predators.
Nest Chambers
Inside chipmunk burrows, you may find a nesting chamber lined with leaves or grass. This space gives the chipmunk a warmer, safer place to rest and raise young.
Food Storage And Drainage Tunnels
Chipmunk burrows often include storage pockets for acorns, seeds, and other food. Some systems also include drainage paths or sloped tunnels that help keep the main nest drier after rain.
Where They Dig And How To Spot Activity In A Yard
Chipmunks dig where cover and food are close by, such as along garden edges, stone walls, brushy borders, and wooded yard margins. You can often spot activity by looking for clean openings, disturbed plant roots, or repeated traffic along the same narrow paths.
Common Nesting Sites Near Homes And Gardens
Chipmunks like sheltered places with loose soil and nearby cover. Mulched beds, under shrubs, beside foundations, and around retaining walls are common nesting spots near homes and gardens.
How To Tell Chipmunk Holes From Other Animal Holes
Chipmunk holes are usually tidy, small, and round, often without a large mound of dirt. Other animals may leave larger entrances, loose spoil piles, or more obvious runways across the lawn.
Small, clean openings with little soil buildup are a common chipmunk clue.
Why You Rarely See Dirt Mounds At The Entrance
Chipmunks often carry loose soil away from the entrance or disperse it as they dig, so the surface can stay surprisingly neat. That is one reason chipmunk activity can go unnoticed until you see multiple holes or plant damage.
When Burrows Become A Problem For Homeowners
Chipmunks can create damage when they burrow near buildings, patios, and prized plantings. The main concerns are root disturbance, undermined soil, and repeated digging close to structures.
Typical Risks Around Gardens, Patios, And Foundations
In gardens, chipmunks can uproot seedlings and raid bulbs, seeds, and fruit. Near patios and foundations, repeated tunneling may loosen soil and create settling issues.
Chipmunk burrows near foundations can weaken soil stability.
When To Leave Them Alone And When To Act
If the burrow is away from your home and not causing visible damage, you may choose to leave it alone. You should act when you see repeated plant loss, holes near a foundation, or signs that multiple chipmunks are active in the same area.
Humane Ways To Get Rid Of Chipmunks
If you want to get rid of chipmunks, focus on humane control first.
Seal food attractants to make your property less appealing.
Reduce cover to limit hiding spots for chipmunks.
Use live traps only where legal and appropriate.
Consider hiring a professional if the infestation persists, as humane relocation is often a better choice than poison or harsh traps.
