Biting

[mrweiner]

I've just purchased a chipmunk and he keeps biting me.  Its doesn't seem to be a vicous act because he kind of nibbles first and then bites.  He does this to lots of things like shoes aswell.  Any idea how I can get him to stop?

[Nate]

Hi, and welcome to the board.

As you've just got him I'll assume he's still quite young.

These are my thoughts, but i hope other owners may chip in with their experiences as well.

I've found that young chipmunks are still finding their way in the world, and everything they come across has to be tested to see if it's edible. I found with some of mine, if you poke a finger through the bars for example, they will bite it, just as you describe, with a nibble first and then a harder bite. I guess our fingers look a lot like a nut. They also have a fascination with human toes BTW. It's unlikely a very young chipmunk could break the skin and draw blood though.

If your chipmunk is an adult and you feel if after the exploratory nibble the actual bite is intending you harm, then it could well be fear or a smell on your hands he doesn't like. I've found that nearly all my chipmunks young and old dislike human skin, much preferring to avoid my hands to jump on my sleeve. This is even though I'm very careful to wash off any smell from my hands (scented perfumed soap or cooking ingredients for example).

You've had yours for only a short time, so he probably has not had time to get used to you yet and start bonding with you. Consider how you approach him with your hand. Always let him see your hand coming (avoid surprises and not from above). Move your hand towards him slowly, speaking to him softly. Try not to pick him up or grab him, let him choose to come to you. He's likely to back away at first, but if he moves towards your hand to investigate it, that's good.  Perhaps you can hold a monkey nut in your fingers, this should teach him to associate the presence of your hand with something good.

I hope this will put your mind at rest and that something in the above will give you the solution.

[stephen1970]

  I guess our fingers look a lot like a nut. They also have a fascination with human toes BTW.

I remember this quite fondly, 20 years ago I had 13 chipmunks that had free roam of my room when I was at home. When I came out of the shower they used to attack me , some would jump from the top of the cupboards onto my head and shoulders and start licking my wet hair and the rest would congregate round my toes, I eventually gave in and purchased a pair of slippers (although the slippers used to fill up very quickly with sunflower seeds when i wasnt wearing them). I think Nate is correct in saying if it is young its just testing what is food and what is not. If this is your first experience with chipmunks they really dont like bieng picked up espically if they are not used to you. Again I agree with Nate try putting a Peanut, Cherry(mine go mad for cherries) or Waxworm on the palm of your hand and sit patiently and wait for your Chipmunk to come to you, this can take a while be patient though. If you are having problems catching your chipmunk try using a long cardboard tube (I use one that you can buy at postoffices or stationary shops for sending posters etc ) the longer the better, Chipmunks are very nosey and will go into the tube and as it does, you pick it up and take it to the cage or wherever you have to go, every chipmunk I have had has fell for this trick over and over.

[mrweiner]

Thanks very much for your advice, its put my mind a rest that I'm not doing anything wrong.  I'll try to be more patient and gentler with him in the future.  Also will try that cardboard tube trick.