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Are Chipmunks Protected in PA? What the Game Code Says

Eastern chipmunks are a protected wild mammal in Pennsylvania with no open season. Removing one needs a permit — but exclusion needs nothing at all.

By Zakaria 2 min read Save to Pinterest — opens Pinterest in a new tab
Chipmunk
Photo: JillWellington, Pixabay Content License, via Pixabay
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Yes. Eastern chipmunks are a protected wild mammal in Pennsylvania with no open season — so removal is regulated, while exclusion is not regulated at all and works better anyway.

Verify before acting

Wildlife regulations are amended regularly and the detail matters. Confirm the current position with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, or engage a licensed nuisance wildlife control operator who already holds the relevant authorisation.

This page explains the framework; it is not a substitute for the current rule.

Why relocation is a bad answer even where it is allowed

  • Poor survival. A chipmunk moved to unfamiliar ground has no burrow, no cached food and no knowledge of local predators, and its winter strategy depends on a larder it has not built
  • Disease spread between populations
  • Someone else’s land, with their own wildlife and their own objections
  • A vacancy. Territory that supports a chipmunk will attract another within weeks

That last point is the practical one. Removing individuals does not reduce the population a garden supports — it just changes which animal occupies it.

What works, and needs no permit

Exclusion and habitat, ranked by effect
MeasureEffect
Seal foundation and crawl-space gaps with hardware clothLargest. Removes the access
Clear spilled birdseed dailyVery large. Usually the main attraction
Store pet food and birdseed in metal binsLarge
Wire mesh under new turf, over bulb plantingsTargets the actual damage
Cut back dense ground cover against the houseReduces cover and approach routes
Gravel strip around the foundationDiscourages burrowing against the wall

Putting the damage in proportion

Chipmunk burrows are shallow and small. The fear that they undermine foundations, walls and patios is largely unfounded for an animal this size, though tunnelling under steps and slabs can be a genuine nuisance.

The real complaints are eaten bulbs, dug-up seedlings and raided bird feeders — all of which respond to mesh, placement and tidying up spilled seed.

Given that, and given the protected status, tolerance plus exclusion is both the lawful route and the one that actually holds.

Common questions

Are chipmunks protected in Pennsylvania?

Eastern chipmunks are classified as wild mammals under the Pennsylvania Game and Wildlife Code, which means they are protected by default and there is no open hunting or trapping season for them. In practice that makes killing, trapping or relocating one without authorisation a regulatory matter rather than something a homeowner can simply do. The Pennsylvania Game Commission administers this, and its current guidance is what should be checked before acting, since wildlife regulations are amended regularly.

Can I trap and relocate a chipmunk in Pennsylvania?

Relocating wildlife is generally restricted in Pennsylvania and in most other states, and doing it without authorisation is not something to assume is permitted. There are also practical reasons it is discouraged: relocated animals have poor survival rates in unfamiliar territory with no established burrow or cached food, moving animals can spread disease, and releasing one on land you do not own raises its own problems. Contact the Game Commission or a licensed nuisance wildlife operator rather than relying on general advice.

What can I do about chipmunks legally?

Exclusion and habitat modification need no permit anywhere and are what actually solve the problem. Sealing gaps in foundations and crawl spaces with hardware cloth, removing fallen birdseed, storing pet food securely, cutting back dense ground cover against the house, and using wire mesh under new turf or over bulb plantings all reduce both the attraction and the access. None of that is regulated, and all of it works better than removing individual animals, which simply creates a vacancy.

Do I need a permit to remove a chipmunk in PA?

For lethal control or removal of a protected wild mammal, yes — Pennsylvania's framework provides for permits issued through the Game Commission, and there are provisions covering wildlife causing property damage. The specifics, including who may act and under what circumstances, change and are best confirmed directly with the Commission or by engaging a licensed nuisance wildlife control operator who already holds the relevant authorisation.

Are chipmunks actually damaging?

Rarely in a structural sense. Burrows are shallow and the tunnelling of a small ground squirrel does not undermine foundations or retaining walls in the way people fear, though it can be a nuisance under patios and steps. The genuine complaints are eaten bulbs, dug seedlings and raided bird feeders. Because the damage is usually modest and the animals are protected, exclusion and tolerance are the proportionate response for most gardens.

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