Chipmunks are one of the most familiar backyard mammals in Ohio, yet very little of their daily lives takes place above ground. Most people notice these tiny striped rodents darting across sidewalks, carrying acorns through the woods, or disappearing beneath shrubs in a matter of seconds. What often goes unnoticed is where they actually live. Beneath forest floors, stone walls, gardens, and even suburban lawns lies an impressive network of underground tunnels that few people ever see.
A single chipmunk may spend much of its life maintaining an elaborate burrow that serves as a home, food storage facility, nursery, and winter refuge. These underground systems are carefully designed to remain hidden from predators while providing protection from changing Ohio weather. Although chipmunks seem constantly busy above ground during spring and autumn, their real work often happens beneath the soil.
Ohio’s forests, parks, and residential neighborhoods provide excellent conditions for Eastern chipmunks. Their ability to adapt to both wild and developed landscapes explains why they remain one of the state’s most successful small mammals…