Chipmunks are found in Texas, though their presence is limited to specific areas. The Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) is the most common species, inhabiting the eastern forested regions. Its distribution within Texas is not statewide.
The Only Chipmunk in Texas
The Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) is a small rodent, typically measuring between 5 and 10 inches in length, including its tail, and weighing about 2 to 5 ounces. Its fur is reddish-brown on the upper body with a lighter, often white, underside. A distinguishing feature is the pattern of five dark stripes along its back, and light and dark stripes around its eyes.
These active, diurnal creatures are often seen foraging at ground level. They possess expandable cheek pouches, which they use to gather and carry food such as seeds, nuts, and fruits back to their burrows. Eastern Chipmunks are largely solitary animals, maintaining their own burrows and only interacting for breeding purposes.
Where They Roam
The Eastern Chipmunk’s presence in Texas is primarily concentrated in the eastern parts of the state. This includes the Piney Woods ecoregion, an area characterized by thick forests of pines and various hardwood trees. These chipmunks prefer habitats with ample ground cover, such as deciduous and mixed forests, woodlands, and areas featuring logs, rocks, and brush piles for shelter.
While their primary habitat is natural woodlands, they can also be found in suburban areas adjacent to these forested environments. A separate species, the Gray-footed Chipmunk (Neotamias canipes), has a very restricted distribution in the state, found only in the higher elevations of the Guadalupe Mountains and Sierra Diablo in the Trans-Pecos region of far West Texas.
Not a Chipmunk? Common Look-Alikes
Many small, striped rodents are often mistaken for chipmunks, particularly various ground squirrel species common in Texas. A key differentiator lies in the stripe pattern on the head. Chipmunks, such as the Eastern Chipmunk, typically have prominent dark and light stripes that extend onto their face, specifically above and below their eyes.
In contrast, ground squirrels, like the Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel or the Spotted Ground Squirrel, generally have stripes or spots only on their body and back, without extending onto their head or face. The Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel, for instance, features a distinct pattern of thirteen alternating light and dark stripes running down its back, with some dark stripes containing rows of light spots.
Spotted Ground Squirrels, as their name suggests, exhibit scattered light spots on their backs rather than continuous stripes. Furthermore, chipmunks are typically smaller, measuring about 5 to 6 inches in body length compared to some ground squirrels that can be 7 to 12 inches long.