Chipmunks are adorable, aren’t they? Maybe you’re tempted to pick one up, but you really should be cautious. Wild chipmunks can carry diseases, and handling them puts you at risk for bites or infections. Sure, they rarely carry rabies, but the risk isn’t zero. Touching them with bare hands just isn’t worth it.
If you spot a chipmunk that seems unusually calm or friendly, it’s better to just watch from a distance. These little animals get stressed or could even get hurt if you try to hold them.
Learning how to keep yourself safe and respect their space lets you enjoy chipmunks without causing problems for you or them.
Curious about how to interact safely with chipmunks, or what to do if you find one in trouble? Let’s dive into the facts and tips.
Risks and Safety Concerns When Handling Chipmunks
When you handle chipmunks, you put yourself and the animal at risk. Chipmunks can react suddenly, and close contact brings possible health issues.
You need to protect both yourself and the chipmunk to avoid injuries or worse.
Potential for Bites and Scratches
Chipmunks have sharp little teeth and claws. If you try to pick one up, it might bite or scratch you to defend itself.
These bites can break the skin, and they hurt more than you’d think.
You probably won’t realize a chipmunk feels threatened until it reacts. Wild animals don’t always give warning.
To avoid getting bitten or scratched:
- Don’t grab them with bare hands.
- Wear gloves or use tools if you have to handle one.
- Keep your distance unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Chipmunk Health and Disease Transmission
Chipmunks often carry fleas and ticks, which can pass diseases to you or your pets. Their saliva, urine, and droppings also contain germs.
Diseases like Lyme disease can spread through flea or tick bites. Even a chipmunk that looks healthy can pass along illnesses if you touch it.
You can lower your risk by:
- Not touching chipmunks.
- Treating your yard for fleas and ticks.
- Washing your hands well if you do come into contact with one.
Stress and Harm to Chipmunks
When you pick up or handle a chipmunk, you can seriously stress the animal out. Chipmunks rely on stored food and a safe home, especially before winter.
Moving them away from their home can leave them lost and without their food stash. That can threaten their survival.
If you absolutely have to move a chipmunk, release it at least three miles from where you found it, but skip this in late summer. Otherwise, just leave them alone or call a wildlife pro.
Handle chipmunks only when you really need to. That way, you keep them safe and lower the risk of injury or harm.
You can check out chipmunk handling guidelines if you want to know more about doing this safely.
Humane Ways to Handle and Remove Chipmunks
When you deal with chipmunks, you should use methods that keep you and the animal safe. You can manage chipmunk issues by removing them gently, using traps, or trying other ways to keep them out of your space.
Best Practices for Safe Removal
If you find a chipmunk indoors or somewhere risky, don’t grab it bare-handed. Put on heavy gloves to protect yourself.
Approach the chipmunk slowly with a thick towel in front of you. That way, it won’t see your whole shape and get too scared.
Drop the towel gently over the chipmunk, then roll it up carefully. Try not to squeeze or press too hard.
Once you’ve got it wrapped up, take the chipmunk outside and open the towel so it can run off. Afterward, check your home or garden for any places chipmunks could get in, and seal them up.
That keeps your home safe and lets the chipmunk stay wild.
Use of Live Traps and Relocation
Live traps can help you catch chipmunks without hurting them. Place small, baited traps where you see chipmunks hanging out—peanut butter works great as bait.
Set traps on flat ground and check them often so the animal doesn’t get too stressed.
When you catch a chipmunk, move it at least a mile away from your home before letting it go. Pick a safe spot with cover and food.
Handle traps gently and wear gloves for your own safety. Also, make sure to check your local laws about moving wildlife, since the rules can be different depending on where you live.
Alternatives to Picking Up Chipmunks
If you don’t want to catch or handle chipmunks, there are other ways to keep them away. Try clearing out hiding spots like rock piles, wood stacks, or thick shrubs.
When you remove these, your yard just doesn’t seem as cozy for chipmunks looking to burrow. Some folks also put up barriers—wire mesh or even a gravel border without plants—around their gardens.
That can block chipmunks from digging where you don’t want them. Squirrel repellents might help too, and honestly, chipmunks aren’t big fans of those either.
You could plant daffodils or alliums since chipmunks usually avoid those bulbs. Maybe it’s the smell? Either way, you might see fewer chipmunks without having to trap or touch them.
For more tips on humane chipmunk control, check out Humane World for Animals’ guide on what to do about chipmunks.
