Chipmunks close, cover, or partially block burrow entrances during colder months. They spend more time underground and try to stay hidden from predators.
You may notice covered entrances from late fall through winter. A chipmunk may also seal a side opening at any time it wants to keep its burrow system more secure.
A covered hole does not always mean a burrow is abandoned. It often means a chipmunk is still using it.
Chipmunk holes are small and easy to miss. These holes can lead to a much larger underground space than you expect.
If you want to avoid disturbing an active chipmunk hole, check for fresh tracks, loose soil, or signs of recent use before you act.
What A Covered Entrance Usually Means
A covered entrance usually points to a chipmunk burrow that is still part of an active system. Chipmunks often keep one entrance open while covering others with leaves or soil to stay concealed.
Why A Chipmunk Burrow May Look Closed
A chipmunk may hide a side entrance, rest, or reduce exposure to predators by closing a burrow. Tamias species build compact entrances and move soil away from the opening.
The entrance can look neat rather than messy, making it easy to miss.
Seasonal Patterns In Burrow Use
Chipmunks use their burrows differently across the year. In warm months, they store food and travel daily.
During colder months, chipmunks spend more time underground and may keep entrances covered for safety and insulation.
How To Identify An Active Entrance
Look for a small, clean opening about 1 to 3 inches wide with little dirt piled around it. Fresh footprints, scattered leaf cover, or a hole that reopens after being lightly obstructed are signs of an active chipmunk hole.
For more identification clues, see what a chipmunk hole looks like.
When Chipmunks Hide, Rest, Or Raise Young
Chipmunks shift between active daytime foraging, underground rest, and nesting depending on the season.
The eastern chipmunk, least chipmunk, and other members of the squirrel family rely on burrows for shelter, raising young, and food storage.
Cold Weather And Winter Dormancy
Chipmunks do not truly hibernate, but they slow down a lot in winter. They spend much of late fall through early spring sleeping underground, waking on warmer days to feed briefly before going back below ground.
Spring And Summer Nesting Activity
Spring is a major breeding period. Eastern chipmunk females may have a second litter in late summer.
During these months, chipmunk burrows see more activity as adults raise young, store food, and move between nest chambers and feeding areas.
When Baby Chipmunks Start Appearing Above Ground
Baby chipmunks usually stay hidden until they are more developed and can move around on their own.
Many young chipmunks begin appearing above ground around 6 to 8 weeks old, which is when they start looking more like small adults, according to chipmunk baby timelines.
What To Do Before You Fill Yard Openings
Before you fill chipmunk holes, make sure the opening is not active and that the timing makes sense. If you rush, you can trap an animal underground or end up reopening the same opening again.
Should You Fill Chipmunk Holes Right Away
You should not fill chipmunk holes right away if you still see signs of recent use. If the hole is active, a mother with young may be inside, and closing it too soon can cause more problems than it solves.
Wait and watch first.
How To Fill Chipmunk Holes More Safely
Confirm that the burrow is inactive before filling the opening. Pack the opening firmly with soil or another appropriate material.
Check the area over several days to make sure nothing reopens. If the damage is widespread, consider contacting critter control.
How To Keep Chipmunks Away From Problem Areas
Reduce food and shelter near openings to keep chipmunks away.
Clean up fallen seed and secure bird feeders.
Trim dense ground cover.
Limit easy access to gardens and pet food.
Use exclusion and habitat changes together if chipmunks remain persistent.
