By
eHow Holidays & Celebrations Editor
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step1
Notice the squirrel's size. Ground squirrels are larger than chipmunks and smaller than tree squirrels.
Step2
Observe the squirrel's reaction when startled. Ground squirrels will dash quickly into their burrows to avoid danger, while tree squirrels will climb a nearby tree, building or telephone pole.
Step3
Examine the squirrel's markings. While some ground squirrels are striped or spotted, they will only exhibit markings on their backs, whereas chipmunks will have their characteristic stripes on both their heads and their backs. Tree squirrels, on the other hand, are uniform in color.
Step4
Study the animal's tail. Most ground squirrels have shorter, less bushy tails than tree squirrels. While chipmunks and ground squirrels have roughly equally bushy tails, the tail on a chipmunk usually is longer than the animal's body. Most ground squirrels also display lighter colors on the underside of their tails, while chipmunks and tree squirrels have uniform-colored tails.
Step5
Count the number of babies. If you're trying to identify a ground squirrel in the spring, this is one good way to distinguish it from a chipmunk. While ground squirrels will have 7 or 8 young in each litter, a chipmunk will only have 4 or 5.
Step6
Check for true hibernation. If it is wintertime, a ground squirrel will go into true hibernation, while chipmunks exhibit what is known as torpor. A chipmunk in torpor will have a higher body temperature and wake up more frequently to feed on stored food than a hibernating ground squirrel.