Chipmunk vs Squirrel: What's the Difference?
Chipmunks are small, striped, ground-living squirrels. The chipmunk lives in North America and Asia; the squirrel is found worldwide.
Quick answers
They differ on 2 of the 8 quick answers: hibernates, do people eat it.
| Question | Chipmunk | Squirrel |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Mammal | Mammal |
| Carnivore? | Omnivore | Omnivore |
| Dangerous? | No | No |
| Domesticated? | No | No |
| Awake when? | Daytime | Daytime |
| Hibernates? differs | Yes | No |
| Kept as a pet? | No | No |
| Do people eat it? differs | No | In places |
At a glance
| Question | Chipmunk | Squirrel |
|---|---|---|
| Found in differs | North America, Asia | Worldwide |
| Habitat differs | Forest, Towns, Scrub | Forest, Towns, Grassland |
| Size differs | Tiny | Small |
| Length differs | 25.5–26.6 cm (eastern chipmunk) | 10–14 cm (pygmy squirrels) to 1.27 m (giant flying squirrel) |
| Weight differs | 66–115 g (eastern chipmunk) | 12–26 g (pygmy squirrels) to 8 kg or more (marmots) |
| Legs | 4 | 4 |
| Covered in | Fur | Fur |
| Lives | Alone | Alone |
| Lives for differs | 2–8 years | 5–10 years |
| Can fly | No | No |
| Swims | Yes | Yes |
| Lays eggs | No | No |
About each
Chipmunk
Small, striped burrowing squirrels of North America, plus the Siberian chipmunk of Asia. They carry food home in their cheek pouches and store it for winter.
Everything on the chipmunk page
Squirrel
Rodents with slender bodies, long bushy tails and large eyes. The family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels such as chipmunks and prairie dogs, and flying squirrels.
Everything on the squirrel page
Sources
Last reviewed . The answers and notes come from each animal's own page, where every source is listed.
How each answer is decided: How we answer. More look-alikes: Commonly confused animals.