Creature Feature 

The Wonderful World of Ground Squirrels 

By Wayne Bierbaum 

I grew up in Florida and never saw a chipmunk until I was about 9. It happened when my family took a summer vacation and visited relatives along the East Coast.  

One set of relatives lived in the suburbs of New York City. Their house was large enough for me to stay there for several days. I remember the house had a hidden room and a hidden staircase, the grass in the yard was very fine and delicate, the porch was big enough for a three-person swing and there were chipmunks.   

The chipmunks were considered a nuisance because they dug around the garden’s stone wall. I thought they were cute and tried to train them. They did not trust me and just became sneaky.  Once they knew I had had some treats for them, they would sneak up and grab one when I wasn’t looking and pack their cheeks before running off. Despite not being able to befriend them or train them, they were great to watch—so quick and smart. 

Chipmunks are a type of ground squirrel. Ground squirrels make underground tunnels for homes. Unlike prairie dogs, common ground squirrels usually live alone in their tunnels. Most homes have multiple chambers. There are sleeping areas and food storage areas.  

During the summer, they eat well and breed. The females may have two litters a summer and the males do not participate in the care.  Toward the end of the summer, after the kids are kicked out, they start storing food for the winter. Grasses and seeds make up the bulk of their larder. In the winter, most species do not truly hibernate but sleep deeply for long periods, wake, get a little snack and sleep again.  Chipmunks do not hibernate and on warm winter days can be seen poking about above ground. 

I have seen ground squirrels all over the United States. From the dusty brown ground squirrels in Monterey, Calif., to the chirping chipmunks in Maine—the cutest being the tiny least chipmunks in the Rocky Mountains. Chipmunks, of course, are common in certain parts of Maryland. Rocky areas with higher elevations are the best place to find them. The only species present locally is the eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus).   

Chipmunks and other ground squirrels are the target of many predators and therefore have a short life expectancy. They are the favored prey of hawks, foxes, snakes and badgers. In badger country, ground squirrels usually have escape tunnels in case a badger starts to dig them out.  

Unfortunately, ground squirrels can harbor diseases. The most dramatic of which is the Bubonic plague (caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis) which can be found in ground squirrels in the western U.S. In 2021, two cases were reported in New Mexico. Although Y. pestis is now easily treated in its early stages it can still be fatal if not caught early. Overall mortality has decreased to about 11 percent, says the Centers for Disease Control. 

 In most cases, the human infection occurs from the bite of fleas that fed on infected ground squirrels. Handling the squirrels or being bitten by one can also spread the disease to humans.  The ground squirrels can also be a reservoir for diseases like Lyme disease.  Do not do what my 9-year-old self did—do not feed them. Also, avoid the temptation to leave poisoned bait outside for them because other animals, like hawks, could also be killed. 

Enjoy these cute woodland creatures at a distance whenever you spot them.