Chipmunks in California in June

Yes, June is one of the best months to see chipmunks in California. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 18,188 of the 172,073 sightings logged across the year (10.6%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Eastern Fox Squirrel photographed in CaliforniaMohave Ground Squirrel photographed in CaliforniaEastern Fox Squirrel photographed in California
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for chipmunks in California

10.6%

of yearly sightings

18,188

records in June

#3

busiest month of 12

172,073

verified records a year

May 11.6%, June 10.6%, July 9%. Busiest month is April at 12.4%.

Best months: April, May, June

172,073 verified observations of chipmunks in California, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When chipmunks are recorded in California

Peak month

April

21,360 records (12.4% of the year)

Quietest month

December

8,398 records

MonthObservationsShare
January9,6395.6%
February11,2796.6%
March14,9048.7%
Aprilpeak21,36012.4%
Maypeak19,88811.6%
Junepeak18,18810.6%
July15,4409%
August14,0088.1%
September15,3368.9%
October13,0377.6%
November10,5966.2%
December8,3984.9%

Chipmunks you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
California Ground Squirrel58,513
Eastern Fox Squirrel46,783
Western Gray Squirrel17,683
Eastern Gray Squirrel9,579
Merriam's Chipmunk4,545
Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel4,390
Douglas's Squirrel4,177
White-tailed Antelope Squirrel4,158

In California, June carries 10.6% of the year's chipmunks sightings, about 2.3 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity holds steady between May and June, and it heads toward July (9%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so June is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The chipmunks most often recorded in California are California Ground Squirrel, Eastern Fox Squirrel and Western Gray Squirrel. Those counts are annual totals rather than a June split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in June itself.

Which chipmunks you are most likely to see

  • California Ground Squirrel58,513 records
  • Eastern Fox Squirrel46,783 records
  • Western Gray Squirrel17,683 records
  • Eastern Gray Squirrel9,579 records
  • Merriam's Chipmunk4,545 records
  • Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel4,390 records
Plan your tripAlcatraz Island

Plan your chipmunk trip in California

Start with live tours near Alcatraz Island, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see chipmunks in California in June?+

Yes. June accounts for 18,188 of the 172,073 verified chipmunks sightings logged in California across the year, which is 10.6% of the annual total.

Is June a good time to see chipmunks in California?+

June is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of April, May and June.

What month is best for chipmunks in California?+

April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, May and June, based on 172,073 verified observations.

Which chipmunks are you most likely to see in California?+

The most-recorded species in California are California Ground Squirrel, Eastern Fox Squirrel and Western Gray Squirrel, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.