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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...

Javarat
02-01-2019, 08:56 PM
After several months of hiding in their burrows, I started seeing chipmunks out foraging in my area two days ago.
Nights are not going below freezing (at your house) for the next two weeks, but rain is coming in 10 days.
She will need time to dig a new burrow before the rain.
As far as protocol.. I would just follow the same procedures as a squirrel in this situation, with weather being the predominant factor.

Spanky
02-01-2019, 09:07 PM
My biggest concern would be if she is nursing.. which I expect you would have already spotted and mentioned.

I did check and saw nothing that made me think this one was nursing young ones. Had that been the case, I would have tried to convince the homeowners to release her there.

But she/he also has been trapped inside that house 6 days.

Good to know you are seeing recent chipmunk activity... its been a few weeks since I have seen them around here.

Javarat
02-01-2019, 09:20 PM
i knew you would have already checked for nursing, which is why I deleted that line from the post :)