As an avid nature lover and squirrel enthusiast, I’m often exploring the outdoors and observing these cute little critters. During my adventures, I’ve become quite familiar with the signs of chipmunk activity, including their unique poop! If you’ve ever wondered “What does chipmunk poop look like?”, you’ve come to the right place.
What does chipmunk poop look like?
Chipmunk poop is small, oblong pellets around 0.25 inches long that resemble an almond shape. The coloring ranges from light brown to black, depending on diet. It’s smaller than rat poop but may be mistaken for mice droppings.
In this blog post, I’ll share how to identify chipmunk droppings, how they differ from other animal poop, what to do if you find it, and much more. Let’s dig in!
Appearance: Size, Shape & Color of Chipmunk Poop
In the video below, at 0:59 you can see how chipmunk poop looks like:
Chipmunk droppings have some telltale signs that set them apart from other animal poop you may encounter. Here are the key identifying features:
Small Oval Pellets
The typical chipmunk poop is an oblong, oval shape that resembles an almond or mini football. Unlike more rounded rabbit poop, chipmunk scat has slightly pointed, tapered ends.
Each pellet is quite small, averaging around 1⁄4 inch (0.5 cm) long and less than 1⁄8 inch (0.3 cm) in diameter. For reference, that’s only slightly larger than a pea!
Color Varies
The color of chipmunk droppings can range from light brown to almost black. The hue mainly depends on their diet:
Fresh scat tends to be glossy and dark. As feces age, they dry out and lighten in color. The contents of their meal may also be visible such as seed remnants.
Other Physical Traits
Here are a few other traits of chipmunk poop:
- Texture – Firm, dry pellets
- Odor – Slight musky scent, not very strong
- Amount – Droppings are usually scattered individually
How Chipmunk Poop Differs From Other Animal Droppings
At first glance, chipmunk poop looks similar to the droppings of other rodents and animals. But upon closer inspection, there are subtle differences to note:
Vs. Mouse Poop
- Chipmunk scat is slightly larger
- Chipmunk pellets have more tapered ends
- Mice poop color is more consistently blackish
Vs. Rat Poop
- Rat droppings are noticeably larger
- Rat poop ends are blunter
- Rat feces are generally dark brown or black
Vs. Squirrel Poop
- Squirrel scat is larger with rounded ends
- Squirrel poop is lighter brown with visible food particles
- Squirrel droppings are often clumped together
Where You’re Likely to Find Chipmunk Poop
Chipmunks tend to relieve themselves in certain spots repeatedly. Here are the top areas chipmunk droppings accumulate:
- In or near burrow openings
- Along fences, walls, or other routes they travel
- Near tree stumps or log piles they nest in
- Around gardens, flower beds with grubs
- Under bird feeders where the seed falls
You probably won’t find mounds of poop since they go individually. But scan for lone pellets around the high-activity areas noted above.
Dangers of Chipmunk Droppings
Like any wild animal poop, chipmunk feces carries health risks if contamination occurs. Some main dangers include:
Parasites
Intestinal parasites like tapeworms, flukes, and Giardia may lurk in the feces which can infect other animals. Roundworms are common chipmunk parasites.
Salmonella
The bacteria Salmonella typhi can lead to food poisoning-like symptoms if ingested by humans.
Hantavirus
Humans can contract this serious respiratory disease by inhaling dust contaminated with infected rodent urine, saliva, or droppings.
Leptospirosis
The Leptospira bacteria in their urine or poop can enter the body through mucous membranes and breaks in the skin.
For these reasons, it’s vital to take safety measures when cleaning up chipmunk droppings which we’ll cover next.
How to Safely Clean Up Chipmunk Poop
Finding chipmunk poop scattered around your yard or near your home may prompt you to grab a broom and dustpan for quick cleanup. But take heed as their scat requires more care to remove safely.
Follow these tips to properly clean up after chipmunks:
- Put on protective gear – gloves, mask, goggles
- Lightly spray droppings with disinfectant or soapy water
- Use a plastic bag or paper towels to collect poop
- Seal poop in a bag and throw it away
- Disinfect any surfaces poop was in contact with
- Take off gloves and ensure to thoroughly cleanse hands with soap and water
For heavy chipmunk droppings, you may want to consult a professional pest control company. They have powerful disinfectants and can ensure feces is fully removed from crawl spaces or under buildings.
How to Get Rid of Chipmunks Safely and Humanely
Seeing those tiny dark pellets usually means you have chipmunks actively frequenting your property. The best solution is to proactively deter them from sticking around using humane prevention methods. Here are some tips to get rid of chipmunks without harming them:
1. Remove All Food and Water Sources
Eliminate any outdoor pet food, bird feeders, garbage cans, or fallen fruit that could attract chipmunks. Clean up under bird feeders daily as well.
2. Use Repellents
Sprinkle cayenne pepper, black pepper, garlic powder, or unpleasant aromatic oils around your yard and garden to repel chipmunks.
3. Cut Off Shelter Opportunities
Trim back thick brush or vegetation near your home’s foundation. Install mesh wire fencing at least 1 foot down and outward from the base of sheds or gardens.
4. Plug Up Possible Entry Points
Seal any openings wider than 0.25 inches around your home using caulk, concrete, hardware cloth, or metal flashing.
5. Use humane removal methods
As a last resort, you can try trapping the chipmunks in live cage traps baited with peanut butter. Then release them at least 5 miles away in a rural wooded area.
Conclusion
So, what does chipmunk poop look like? Now you know that chipmunk droppings are small, oblong pellets around 1⁄4 inch long.
Hopefully, this guide gave you a good idea of how to identify chipmunk droppings based on their small oval shape, brown color, and location.
While they may look like mouse or rat poop, chipmunk scat has distinguishing characteristics. Being able to recognize the presence of chipmunks from their poop allows you to take proactive removal and prevention measures.
With some awareness and humane pest control, you can safely get rid of chipmunks and enjoy your yard again!
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