Chipmunks in Illinois in April

Yes, April is one of the best months to see chipmunks in Illinois. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 3,644 of the 24,549 sightings logged across the year (14.8%), 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 Chipmunk photographed in IllinoisEastern Gray Squirrel photographed in IllinoisEastern Gray Squirrel photographed in Illinois
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for chipmunks in Illinois

14.8%

of yearly sightings

3,644

records in April

#1

busiest month of 12

24,549

verified records a year

March 9.3%, April 14.8%, May 12.8%. Busiest month is April at 14.8%.

Best months: April, May, September

24,549 verified observations of chipmunks in Illinois, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When chipmunks are recorded in Illinois

Peak month

April

3,644 records (14.8% of the year)

Quietest month

July

1,284 records

MonthObservationsShare
January1,2995.3%
February1,3095.3%
March2,2909.3%
Aprilpeak3,64414.8%
Maypeak3,13612.8%
June2,0948.5%
July1,2845.2%
August1,5346.2%
Septemberpeak2,50110.2%
October2,4169.8%
November1,7507.1%
December1,2925.3%

Chipmunks you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Eastern Gray Squirrel13,881
Eastern Chipmunk4,523
Eastern Fox Squirrel3,453
Groundhog1,523
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel510
Southern Flying Squirrel177
American Red Squirrel81
Franklin's Ground Squirrel5

In Illinois, April carries 14.8% of the year's chipmunks sightings, about 6.5 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 1st busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from March (9.3%) into April, and it heads toward May (12.8%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so April is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

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

Which chipmunks you are most likely to see

  • Eastern Gray Squirrel13,881 records
  • Eastern Chipmunk4,523 records
  • Eastern Fox Squirrel3,453 records
  • Groundhog1,523 records
  • Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel510 records
  • Southern Flying Squirrel177 records
Plan your tripLewis & Clark National Historic Trail

Plan your chipmunk trip in Illinois

Start with live tours near Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see chipmunks in Illinois in April?+

Yes. April accounts for 3,644 of the 24,549 verified chipmunks sightings logged in Illinois across the year, which is 14.8% of the annual total.

Is April a good time to see chipmunks in Illinois?+

April is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of April, May and September.

What month is best for chipmunks in Illinois?+

April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, May and September, based on 24,549 verified observations.

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

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