Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) is in the Squirrels family (Sciuridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 76,506 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Eastern Chipmunk: observations by month (U.S.)
About Eastern Chipmunk
The eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) is a chipmunk species found in eastern North America. It is the only living member of the chipmunk subgenus Tamias, sometimes recognised as a separate genus. The name "chipmunk" comes from the Ottawa word ajidamoonh or the Ojibwe word ajidamoo, which translates literally as "one who descends trees headlong."From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Eastern Chipmunk by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 8,601 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 7,206 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 6,197 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Ohio | 5,569 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Michigan | 5,441 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Illinois | 4,892 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Wisconsin | 3,659 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Minnesota | 3,639 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Virginia | 3,344 | May | Apr–Jul |
| New Jersey | 3,096 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Vermont | 2,771 | May | Mar–Oct |
| New Hampshire | 2,252 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Maine | 2,136 | June | Apr–Oct |
| North Carolina | 2,113 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Indiana | 2,107 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Georgia | 2,046 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Maryland | 1,786 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Connecticut | 1,490 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Tennessee | 1,436 | May | Mar–Jul |
| Alabama | 1,296 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Missouri | 917 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Iowa | 847 | May | Apr–Oct |
| West Virginia | 642 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Kentucky | 568 | May | Apr–Jul |
| South Carolina | 539 | October | Aug–Nov |
| Rhode Island | 480 | June | May–Oct |
| Arkansas | 477 | May | Apr–Nov |
| District of Columbia | 360 | June | May–Jul |
| Delaware | 206 | June | May–Jun |
| Mississippi | 105 | May | Oct–Jun |
| Kansas | 97 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Louisiana | 93 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Oklahoma | 37 | June | May–Jul |
| North Dakota | 27 | May | May–Sep |
| Florida | 24 | October | May–Nov |
| South Dakota | 8 | May | May–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related mammals (Squirrels)
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Eastern Fox Squirrel
California Ground Squirrel
Groundhog
American Red Squirrel
Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Western Gray Squirrel
Yellow-bellied Marmot
Photography tips
- Keep a legal and safe distance: 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals in national parks.
- Dawn and dusk are peak activity times for most mammals.
- Use your car as a blind on wildlife drives.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Eastern Chipmunk?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to October.
Where is Eastern Chipmunk most often seen?
The most observations come from New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania.