Chipmunk vs Squirrel: How to Tell Them Apart

Size is the first clue. Chipmunks are noticeably smaller than squirrels. A chipmunk fits in your palm. A squirrel does not. Stripes are the second clue. Chipmunks have prominent dark stripes running along their back and down their face. These stripes are very visible. Most squirrels have no stripes at all. Their coat is solid or fluffy but not striped. The tail is the third tell. Chipmunks have small tails that are not very fluffy. Squirrels have large, fluffy tails that are obvious from a distance. A chipmunk tail looks thin and small compared to its body. A squirrel tail looks huge compared to its body. Behavior helps too. Chipmunks run quickly on the ground in short bursts and then freeze. Squirrels climb trees and run along branches. Chipmunks move like ground scurries. Squirrels move like climbers. Watch their habitat choice. If you see wildlife on a tree, it is a squirrel. On the ground, it is likely a chipmunk.

Chipmunks range from about 4 to 6 inches long, not counting the tail. They weigh less than half a pound, usually about 2 to 4 ounces. Their body is slim and compact. Squirrels are significantly larger, usually 8 to 12 inches long depending on species. The fox squirrel, the largest species, reaches 18 inches. Squirrels weigh up to 1 to 2 pounds or more. This size difference is dramatic when you see them together. A chipmunk looks like a miniature version of a squirrel, but with different proportions. Chipmunks are relatively more slender with shorter legs designed for ground speed. Squirrels have stronger hind legs for climbing and jumping. Chipmunk ears are small and rounded. Squirrel ears are larger and more prominent. Some squirrels, like fox squirrels, have long ear tufts in winter that make their ears look even bigger.

Chipmunks are found mainly in forested and brushy areas of the eastern and western US. The eastern chipmunk is common from Massachusetts west to the Dakotas and south to Georgia. Western chipmunk species inhabit the Rockies and Pacific regions. Chipmunks are less common in the south and great plains. They prefer cooler regions with good cover. Squirrels are widespread and adaptable. Tree squirrels live in nearly every state with trees, from Maine to Florida to California. Squirrels thrive in cities, suburbs, and forests. You find them in neighborhoods with oak trees and parks. Ground squirrels are also common in western states and grasslands. The range overlap is significant. In Massachusetts, both live. In California, multiple squirrel species exist, with some chipmunk species in higher elevations. But squirrels are much more common in populated areas.

Chipmunks are ground runners. They move fast in short bursts across open ground and then stop and freeze. They listen for danger. Chipmunks spend time foraging on the ground for seeds, nuts, and insects. They collect food in their cheek pouches and carry it back to their burrows. Chipmunks are solitary except during mating season. They are less social than squirrels. Squirrels are climbers and jumpers. They ascend trees and race along branches with incredible agility. Squirrels spend time in trees feeding on nuts and seeds, dropping cone scales and pieces to the ground. Squirrels also forage on the ground but feel safer returning to trees. Squirrels are more tolerant of each other and sometimes gather in groups. Chipmunks are noisier, making chirping and chucking sounds. Squirrels also chirp and chatter. Both are active during the day but retreat during the hottest parts of summer.

Start with size. Was the animal very small, fitting in your hand? Chipmunk. Was it larger, the size of a small cat? Squirrel. Look for stripes on the back and face. Bold stripes mean chipmunk. No stripes mean squirrel. Check the tail size. A thin, small tail means chipmunk. A large, fluffy tail means squirrel. Where was it? In a tree climbing or jumping? Squirrel. On the ground running quickly? Chipmunk. In a burrow or diving into a hole? Chipmunk. Watch how it moves. Chipmunks make short dashes and freeze. Squirrels move continuously and cover ground fast. Listen for sounds. Chipmunks make distinct chirping and chucking calls. Squirrels make different chattering sounds. If you see it eating, chipmunks stuff their cheeks with food. Squirrels do not have obvious cheek pouches. In Massachusetts or New York, both live, but use size and stripes to decide.

One myth is that chipmunks and squirrels are the same animal with different names. They are not. They are separate rodent families. Another myth is that all striped ground animals are chipmunks. Squirrels have species too, like thirteen-lined ground squirrels, which are striped. However, these are ground squirrels, not tree squirrels, and still lack facial stripes. A third myth is that chipmunks cannot climb trees. Some can climb, but they do it rarely and poorly. Trees are not their home. Squirrels are the tree experts. Another false idea is that chipmunks and squirrels eat the same food. Both eat seeds and nuts, but chipmunks prefer insects and seeds while squirrels prefer tree nuts. A fifth myth is that you can distinguish them only by size. Stripes are more reliable than size since young squirrels can look small. A final myth is that chipmunks are just baby squirrels. No, they are separate species. A baby squirrel will still have a big tail and no stripes.