In addition to knowing who to call for squirrel removal, it is also important to know what kind of animals are on your property. Squirrels and chipmunks are each part of the family of rodents called Sciuridae. Therefore, they are related but not that closely. There are several important differences by which you can tell them apart.
Appearance
Tree squirrels have light-coloured fur on their stomachs and darker fur on their backs. The darker fur is usually in a shade of brown or gray, with some being so dark as to appear black. Chipmunks have brown fur on their backs with black and white stripes.
There is a species of ground squirrel called the 13-lined ground squirrel that people sometimes confuse with chipmunks. However, this is a different species, and one way that you can tell it apart from a chipmunk is that the ground squirrel has spots in addition to stripes.
Diet
Chipmunks are considered omnivores, while squirrels are considered herbivores. A squirrel might eat an insect out of desperation if there is nothing else available, but it is not the main staple of a squirrel’s diet. Squirrels primarily feed on seeds and nuts, as well as berries when they can find them. Insects, on the other hand, are considered omnivores. This means that insects are an important part of their diet and will eat insects more often than squirrels.
Habitat
Chipmunks are burrowing rodents. They dig tunnels underground in which they can hide from predators, store food, and raise their young. Because chipmunks live underground, they have fewer limits on where they can live. Chipmunks can and do live in wooded areas, as tree squirrels do, but they can also live in mountain and desert habitats.
Some species of squirrels are ground squirrels that burrow underground like chipmunks, but tree squirrels prefer to build their nests up high. This means that they need wooded areas to make their nests, and if the trees get cleared for development, this is one situation that could drive them into human homes, where wildlife control in Port Moody may be necessary to get them out.
Chipmunks can also live in urban areas, and for the same reason: A loss of their natural habitat. Unlike tree squirrels, they typically make homes close to the ground, but they can cause trouble by getting inside drain pipes in lieu of the tunnels they dig for themselves.
Size
Squirrels are generally much larger than chipmunks. This is true of both tree squirrels and ground squirrels. A chipmunk’s body is usually three to five inches long without the tail, which can add up to five inches more. A squirrel’s body typically measures between nine and 12 inches long, with the tail adding another 12 inches.
Hibernation
Squirrels stay active all winter rather than hibernating. They can do this because they store food and build up body fat during the other months of the year so they can continue to survive in winter when food is scarce. Chipmunks don’t truly hibernate, but they go into a state called torpor. This means they sleep for several days at a stretch to conserve energy, but then they wake up to eliminate waste. They may also do some foraging for food before they go back to sleep.
Damage to Homes
Squirrels and chipmunks are both rodents, so either may cause damage if they get into your home by gnawing. The damage will be similar, but you may see it in different places. Tree squirrels typically make nests in the attic, and that’s where you are most likely to see damage from them.
Skedaddle Is Who To Call for Squirrel Removal
You may ask yourself, “Where can I find squirrel removal near me?” if either squirrels or chipmunks enter your home. In either case, calling Skedaddle for wildlife control in Port Moody is the answer. We can help you claim back your property in a safe and humane manner.
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