Spanky
02-01-2019, 08:05 PM
I received a chipmunk today... only the second chippy I have dealt with (the first was raised from a baby and successfully released).
Short story is a family got a new dog that pretty much destroyed the habitat (stacked wood pile) around what is thought to be the chippy's burrow. Dog chased the chipmunk into the house via a left open door Saturday and was caught in a live trap just last night. They did not want to release him at their place for a few reasons that do not matter but I talked them out of doing a hard release at night in a new territory (mom's house). It has been cold enough that I have not seen chip activity in a few weeks, though it was 60 today.
He (could be a she) is really pissed off and wants to be free. What's the protocol with a forced relo of a chipmunk? :thinking
I am thinking I need to keep him until at least I start seeing chippy activity outside again? Or will he be okay released in a new territory (early in the day)? If he stays close, food source and water source will not be a problem. I could place him (inside a cage) in the anteroom of a my release cage (it is about 2.5'W X 7'L X 6'H) for now to allow acclimation to the new area.
Could be he is a she and she is pregnant... It is a large, healthy chippy that could be pregnant. I can try to determine sex once she calms down a bit...
Short story is a family got a new dog that pretty much destroyed the habitat (stacked wood pile) around what is thought to be the chippy's burrow. Dog chased the chipmunk into the house via a left open door Saturday and was caught in a live trap just last night. They did not want to release him at their place for a few reasons that do not matter but I talked them out of doing a hard release at night in a new territory (mom's house). It has been cold enough that I have not seen chip activity in a few weeks, though it was 60 today.
He (could be a she) is really pissed off and wants to be free. What's the protocol with a forced relo of a chipmunk? :thinking
I am thinking I need to keep him until at least I start seeing chippy activity outside again? Or will he be okay released in a new territory (early in the day)? If he stays close, food source and water source will not be a problem. I could place him (inside a cage) in the anteroom of a my release cage (it is about 2.5'W X 7'L X 6'H) for now to allow acclimation to the new area.
Could be he is a she and she is pregnant... It is a large, healthy chippy that could be pregnant. I can try to determine sex once she calms down a bit...