Squirrels take fall as the period ideal for adding to their diet in preparation for winter, as well as the opportunity to collect and store food. In other words, they sleep for a few days and then emerge from their burrow in search of food. Chipmunk vs ground squirrel: Hibernationĭuring winter, Chipmunks partake in a partial habitation routine. However, Chipmunks are more inclined to eat insects too.īut, chipmunks and ground squirrels are both considered to be omnivores and periodically eat small animals and insects. You can find a complete list of what a Squirrel eats here. Chipmunk vs ground squirrel: Dietīoth of these animals eat nuts and seeds and berries. It’s also worth noting that the list of predators is longer for chipmunks comparatively. It is believed that ground squirrels live longer because they are better able to hide and shelter in treetops where predators cannot easily catch them. Chipmunks typically have a lifespan of up to 6 years. Ground squirrels usually live for up to 12 years. Ground squirrel Chipmunk vs ground squirrel: Lifespan In other words, all chipmunks are striped squirrels, but not all striped squirrels are chipmunks. Do all chipmunks have stripes?Ĭhipmunks are members of the squirrel family, but they aren’t the only squirrels out there with stripes. Alternatively, ground squirrels have stripes on their head and back. Chipmunk vs ground squirrel: AppearanceĪs discussed earlier, Chipmunk usually contains black and white stripes on its back and side. These small creatures also create tunnels to store food and to keep them safe. They prefer burrows that contain multiple tunnels. These places enable their young to grow with a greater degree of protection from predators.Ĭhipmunks are usually found in forests, mountains, and deserts. Squirrels build their own nests in high branches of trees. You will generally find ground squirrels in woodlands and wooded areas. The tail adds an additional 3 to 5 inches to its length. Image showing chipmunk vs ground squirrel Chipmunk vs ground squirrel: SizeĪs we have mentioned previously, squirrels are usually larger in size, and their body measures almost between 9 to 12 inches, excluding their tail that can add another 12 inches to their length.Ī chipmunk’s body averages 3 to 5 inches long. Both of these animals love to eat nuts and seeds, but their exact diets can vary. Many squirrels species live in trees, while chipmunks largely remain in their burrow and make use of multiple tunnels. By contrast, a chipmunk’s markings consist of five wider tan and brown alternating stripes. The dark brown stripes mostly contain “spots” which give it the dotted appearance. They contain seven dark brown stripes along with six tan stripes. All of these stripes are not the same width or shade. The thirteen-lined ground squirrels are probably named because of the 13 narrow stripes on their body. Unlike Chipmunks their stripes are not highly visible on their heads. Ground squirrels are usually found in open rocky and woody areas. The stripes are present on the head, tail, and back. The most striking and obvious difference in both of these is the existence of stripes on the chipmunk’s head.Ĭhipmunks are small striped animals native to Asia and North America. Ground squirrels are longer and heavier compared to Chipmunks. So this means that essentially, chipmunks and squirrels are distant cousins whose ancestry stems back through thousands of years of development.īoth of these are considered to be rodents and both have brown, reddish-brown, or grayish-brown fur appearance. You can learn more about classifications in my article on Kingdom Animalia. This classification contains: squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, prairie dogs

Squirrels and Chipmunks both belong to the same family named Sciuridae. Difference between Chipmunk vs Ground Squirrel The thirteen-lined ground squirrel’s tail is long and sleek and remains low. Chipmunk tails are bushier than ground squirrels and often hold their tail high when running. Ground squirrels have shorter, smaller ears that are close to the head and almost flat. Starting with a quick summary answer…Ĭhipmunk’s ears protrude above the head.

So in this article, we’ll go over all the prominent differences between chipmunk vs ground squirrel. Well, there are differences between chipmunk vs ground squirrel. And at first sight, you might find both of them identical – or at least quite similar.

Mostly during fall, you might have seen ground squirrels and chipmunks wandering around, searching for food as they prepare for winter.

Chipmunk and squirrel