If you have fruit trees, berry bushes, seed-producing trees, or other easy food sources nearby, you’ll have rodents galore. Peanuts and sunflower seeds should also be fed in limited quantities. We hope you are enjoying PetPonder! You may add some twigs for them to chew on. If you currently own a chipmunk as a pet, it’s legal to keep your chipmunk until the end of their natural life, however, you’re now unable to buy another. if it's crippled, the cat might get him. To make your pet chipmunk more friendly, start handling him from day one assuming that you get a baby. But this doesn’t mean they cannot be kept as pets. Chipmunks have only been kept as pets for a relatively short time and experts are still learning about how best to care for them. One thing is very important for these animals, however, and that is to make sure they have a sufficiently large enough cage … Here we discuss, if chipmunks are ideal as pets, and also provide guidelines for pet chipmunk care. Can you keep a chipmunk as a pet? Fill the box with shredded paper, hay, or dried leaves. It’s just that you need to devote a lot of time, patience, and space for them. The only exception is if are if you are a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. They’ll return to a food source as many times as they can to create the largest stashes possible. Can you keep a squirrel as a pet? Lastly, if you get a chipmunk, remember to invest in a good and sturdy vacuum cleaner for discarded nutshells and husks. ... Chipmunks. Cats are good predators that prey on small rodents like chipmunks. You can also choose to get a chipmunk from animal rescuers. It should also be about six to eight weeks old so that it gets used to you and your lifestyle. Additionally, always wear a pair of protective gloves because even the most docile chipmunk will bite if it is unwell or suffering from an injury. Despite their fun personality, chipmunks are difficult to handle. There are no repellents specifically registered for use against chipmunks, and the … Animals that you can keep as pets without a permit include sugar gliders, wallabies, kangaroos, capybaras, porcupines, and most non-venomous reptiles. If you are prepared to devote time and patience, sharing your home with a chipmunk makes perfect sense. If your pet shows any of the above symptoms or signs of being unwell, you would need to get them to the vet as soon as you can. Achieve a more orderly space by removing fallen branches from bushes and trees. 5 Times Pets Proved They’re Good for Our Health, Pets as Probiotics: A Surprising Reason How Our Pets Make Us Healthier, Ways to Help with Vet Bills for Low-Income Family, The Pros and Cons of Having Ferrets as Pets, Glammed-Up Pets Strut in New York Pet Fashion Show 2019, British Shorthair Cats & Kittens for Sale. This … That’s why I found everything you need to know about whether or not you can keep a squirrel as a pet. This is likely the only time homeowners would see chipmunks during the colder months, and the young are born in April or May. They are not suitable as cuddly toys and playmates, as they rarely become tame and do not seek to be close to people. The cage must be completely escape proof with a mesh size no bigger than 25mm (1 inch) square. Before you buy one though, you should look up your state laws and local ordinances because in some regions, it’s illegal to keep chipmunks as pets. To maintain the peace, keep two male chipmunks together from the start and avoid getting two females to live in the same environment. Don’t keep valuables in the room, chipmunks are hyperactive, and tend to get destructive. If it is legal to own a chipmunk, then you need to find a breeder - you (obviously) can not just capture a wild chipmunk - that would be illegal and dangerous (wild chipmunks bite and can carry diseases, and are not suited to captivity). Chipmunks do not liked to be picked up or handled. Chipmunk toys such as a wheel and a tree branch will help it get a lot of exercise. It is but natural to have a desire to cuddle or pet them. Apart from this, owning and maintaining a chipmunk can be a little expensive (approximate initial cost about $600, and every year about $150). Chipmunks are adorable and considered as one of the most innocent-looking harmless creatures. #2: Hedgehogs. To prevent them from damaging the cage floor, place a bale of moss peat with small holes cut in the plastic. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Like many rodents the chipmunk has pouches inside its cheeks in which it will store food to take to its burrow.Like many small mammals, the chipmunk will hibernate so this should be a consideration when thinking about taking on chipmunks a… Unlike hamsters, these active animals need all the room they can get. Make sure everything you need for a chipmunk is in place before you acquire one. Giving chipmunks medication that is meant for other animals could be fatal. The ideal size of a cage would be 6 ft. x 6 ft. x 4 ft., it is not recommended to put a single adult chipmunk in an enclosure which has a height of less than 4 feet. Here's a look at some of the animals you can't have as pets in Pennsylvania. They do not require special baths, as they groom themselves. You should take an injured or very young wild chipmunk to your local wild animal rescue shelter as soon as possible. Well, we're looking for good writers who want to spread the word. However, the ASPCA does not recommend this. If you find a baby chipmunk, you may be tempted to keep it as a pet. Unlike cats or dogs, they prefer to cling or hang on you, rather than being handled or petted. Would you like to write for us? The short and easy answer is NO. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. A chipmunk cage should be spacious enough that will allow them to exercise, play, and rest at ease. Chipmunks don’t need to be litter trained and are fairly hardy creatures with very few diseases. North Carolina law allows individual counties and cities to create ordinances regarding exotic pets. Once it perceives you to be safe, and not a threat, it will happily come and sit on your shoulder for a quick pat on its back. If they do not get the necessary exercise, they could develop stereotypic movement disorder, which is a disorder that involves non-functional motor behaviour like continuous circling. It may seem obvious that for a small animal, chipmunks would require a small cage, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Sign up to receive the latest and greatest articles from our site automatically each week (give or take)...right to your inbox. Owning and taking care of a chipmunk can be quite costly. The more it gets used to you, the more friendly it will be, but you will have to be very patient. Unless they are tamed from birth, they may act aggressively when touched. Feed the baby chipmunk esbilac powder, mix only enough for 24hrs and keep it refrigerated. In Florida, the laws regarding exotic and wild animals as pets is specified in FLA. ADMIN. If using an aviary ensure to provide double doors to prevent escapes and a base, which is solid or lined with wire mesh to keep your chipmunks This is how chipmunks are as pets. If that’s what you’re into. To help you and your pet chipmunk get comfortable with each other, try to sit very quietly near its cage and talk to it in a soft voice. Some gardeners believe that placing hot spices around planted bulbs can help. You should take an injured or very young wild chipmunk to your local wild animal rescue shelter as soon as possible. More developed chipmunks should be offered 0.2-0.5 mL. Most pet stores sell chipmunks, but it is best to get one through a private breeder. There is no ‘perfect diet’ for a chipmunk. If you’ve ever wondered “can I keep a squirrel as a pet,” you’re in the right place. They seem to enjoy a change in diet, so it shouldn’t be very difficult to feed them. watch it for awhile, but let it be free as soon as possible. Chipmunks can be highly amusing and entertaining animals to have around, but only if you have the time to care for them. 6789 Quail Hill Pkwy, Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603. The chipmunk will eat straight from the dish when hungry and possibly save food for later in … Chipmunks love their freedom and they don’t want to be confined in small spaces or in cages for long periods. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. These health conditions are common in chipmunks: If your chipmunk shows any of these signs, contact a veterinarian as soon as possible. They don’t need to be groomed or bathed and do not emit any odor, unlike ferrets, gliders and canines. It is but natural to have a desire to cuddle or pet them. The cute appearance and behavior of chipmunks tempt all animal lovers to keep them as pets. We’ll Tell You, Tips to Take Care of Your Hairless Pet Rat, Pet Supply Stores: See Which Ones Make the Cut. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. What Pet Magazines Are Worth My Time and Money. In short, you need to be aware of the dos and don’ts of chipmunk care, and of course, put in the time and effort. There are cereals and bars that are specially made for chipmunks and other rodents, and you can find them at most pet stores. Be sure to cover the ground, so that the chipmunks don’t dig, and escape. So you don’t have to worry about getting up in the middle of the night to attend to your pet, as is the case with dogs or cats. Copyright © 2021 UKPets. If you need to examine your pet, do it at night when the lights are dim. Last but not the least, as with any pet, I strongly advise you to ascertain whether it is legal to have chipmunks as pets in your area or state. Keep a check on the water temperature, and refill with warm water constantly. ... You can keep a house cat, but the bobcat is not a pet that's allowed in Pennsylvania. ~ In total, there are twenty-five species of chipmunks and all but one (the Siberian chipmunk) are found only in North America.~ In the wild, chipmunks live for about 3 years, but in captivity, they are known to live for 7-8 years.~ When there is excess food, chipmunks transport food by storing it in pouches in their cheeks. Chipmunks love exploiting bird feeders, feed bags, pet food, or garbage. You can buy a rodent drip bottle, which is available in pet stores. Chipmunks have only been kept as pets for a relatively short time and experts are still learning about how best to care for them. While they enjoy human company, they are not at all cuddly. Healthy chipmunks stay active and have shiny coats and bright eyes. Chipmunks need a lot of room to explore, run, and scamper about to be happy. Are you thinking about getting a second cat for your existing cat? For this reason, before getting a chipmunk, you must consult the vet if he or she is willing to check and treat your pet in case it falls ill or gets wounded or injured. A metal or glass cage, which should be as large aspossible if chipmunks are to be kept indoors, though they will do alot better outdoors in an enclosure not less than 1.8 X 1.2 m (6 x4 ft). You need to find a pet store or a breeder, or even a rescue, to get your chipmunks from. All rights reserved. Just leave her out during the daytime and she will scare the chipmunks away and make them remain out for long. Our site includes quite a bit of content, so if you're having an issue finding what you're looking for, go on ahead and use that search feature there! Make sure you have a food dish, a ceramic one is best, as they cannot tip it over. Chipmunks are very fast and may escape your grip quickly. You have to keep an eye on your pet’s health condition if you plan to own a chipmunk as a pet. It can run around and climb as much as it wants, especially if you would rather keep it indoors. Make a quick temperature check after 15 minutes to ensure the temperature is not above 90°F and not under 75°F. If your pet chipmunks breed, the mother will suckle her babies until they are weaned. The debate on keeping squirrels as pets is huge. Chipmunks for sale - prices of baby chipmunks are around $110. Plants to Deter Chipmunks Sweet chipmunk alarm. Human baby pablums, cows milk, and most pet products (except Esbilac) are not suitable and will likely cause death. As much as their appearance and behavior may be heartwarming, chipmunks are wild creatures that unless already tamed, right after their birth. Apart from that, you need to know a few things about these rodents before you bring them home. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. However, if you are ready to commit, chipmunks as pets do have their advantages. Now, cleaning such a cage can be quite a task. We provide informative articles about caring for pets that you can come back to again and again when you have questions or want to learn more! If you find a baby chipmunk, you may be tempted to keep it as a pet. But hang on, chipmunks are wild creatures and unless tamed from their birth will not allow you to touch them and may even bite if you try to. Ideally, you should only adopt a squirrel if it lacks the survival skills to return to nature. Tree branches, and rocks are a great way to make your chipmunk feel at home. Chipmunks can carry around eight to nine nuts at a time! You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Large carnivores like lions, tigers, and bears are illegal to own, as are apes, baboons, and … Basic diet should contain cereals with addition of vegetables, like turnip and carrots, nuts, fruits in small quantities, and a limited amount of animal protein in the form of meat pieces and eggs. 3- Clear the Mess and Food Sources Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Chipmunks are not legal pets in every state, so the first thing you need to do is check your state's laws. But you need to keep their cages clean, and wash and scrub their housing once every fortnight. look at the question from the short term and long term. Chipmunks are curious, busy, and energetic little creatures. Arkansas. If you have a real problem catching your pet and examining them but you are concerned about your pet's health, you should talk to your vet sooner rather than later. Chipmunks are known to be needy, destructive, and stubborn (not the qualities that you look for in a pet). If you’ve ever wondered “can I keep a squirrel as a pet,” you’re in the right place. Keep empty pipes, shelves or logs in the cage for your chipmunk’s amusement. One may also ask, can you keep a chipmunk as a pet? If you have a pet cat at home, you can let her do the job for you. Another interesting fact about chipmunks is that they tend to store food in their cheeks and then later hide it somewhere safe. We show you the best options to stop the little critters from invading your yard. There are some unusual animals that you can own as a pet, but only if you first obtain a permit. Keep the Animal Calm. Now, it is time to fill the cage. This article will show you how to introduce microgreens into the essential diet of your rabbit, hamster, chipmunk, and guinea pig pets. Whether in the wild or in captivity, they typically increase in weight during autumn as this is a preparation for their coming hibernation. ~ The difference between chipmunks and squirrels is that chipmunks have stripes on their faces, whereas squirrels have stripes on their back. A chipmunk that’s kept as a pet will have one big advantage over their wild counterparts, and that’s the availability of pre-packaged food. CODE ANN. To make this chore easier, you can add a pull-out pan at the bottom of the cage wherein you clean out all the mess that gets collected in the pan and doesn’t damage the floor. Chipmunks are very playful, and do not like to be confined in a small space for long periods. To keep them healthy, you must allow them to explore and run around in open spaces. Unlike dogs, chipmunks do not enjoy being held or picked up, making examinations difficult to conduct. If you have more than two chipmunks, then you will need a separate box for each adult. You may require appropriate licensing from local or state authorities. If you are planning to build an outdoor enclosure, you can consider using aviary cages.