How to Play with a Pet Chipmunk

Chipmunks are curious and playful pets. However, you may end up being more of a witness to your chipmunk's play than a participant! A pet chipmunk will often enjoy interacting with her owners, but she also may just see you as another perch. As long as you are willing to accept this role, playing with your chipmunk will be a rewarding experience.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Provide climbing surfaces and digging material in your chipmunk's home. The best home for a chipmunk is a large outdoor enclosure that provides plenty of space to run and play. Chipmunks love to climb, so provide a variety of surfaces for her to enjoy.

2. Socialize your chipmunk. If you want to take a more direct role in your chipmunk's play, you will need to handle your chipmunk every day. As you handle your pet, he will become more trusting of you and more willing to include you in his play.

3. Play with your pet chipmunk in her enclosure if you have one large enough to walk into. You can play with your chipmunk by offering your hand, at which point she might run up your arm and onto your head! From there, she may leap to a perch and scurry away in another direction.

4. Bring your pet chipmunk in your house to play. Socialized chipmunks enjoy coming inside, and they love to explore their new environment, racing up drapes and leaping onto furniture. Close and secure all windows and doors before you let your pet chipmunk roam around your house.

5. Introduce objects into your chipmunk play sessions. Though chipmunks won't actually play with toys, they are interested in a variety of objects, such as shiny metal or moving fabric. When interested, your pet might drum with her back feet or lift her tail high in the air. If you see these responses, you know you've found something intriguing to your chipmunk!

Tips & Warnings

• Though agile, your pet chipmunk can fall and hurt himself while leaping from perch to perch. If your chipmunk falls, check carefully for any injuries.