How to Get a Wild Baby Chipmunk to Eat

The rescue of a wild baby chipmunk is not a task that should be undertaken lightly. Like any wild animal, even if the baby chipmunk will eventually take food, that does not mean that it is fully tame. Because they are unpredictable, and for the welfare of the animal, the ASPCA does not support the keeping of wild animals as pets. Getting the chipmunk to feed prior to its being delivered to a wildlife rehabilitation specialist requires special care.

Mix the puppy formula with water according to the package directions. The baby chipmunk will not take more than a few drops, if any at all, so don't mix too much at once. Baby chipmunks that have already developed hair and opened their eyes have already been weaned. In this case, the first two steps can be skipped.

Draw a small amount of the formula into the medicine dropper and gently nuzzle the baby's snout with the end. This must be done every two to three hours throughout the day for the first week to two weeks of the baby chipmunk's life.

Place a bowl of fresh water and a bowl of bird seed in the cage containing the baby chipmunk, but do not try to force it to eat. This could cause stress to the animal. Instead, nurture the wild side of the chipmunk by leaving it alone when it eats.

Transport the chipmunk to a wild animal rescue or your local veterinarian as soon as possible. While puppy formula is a safe bandage to get the chipmunk by, it is not composed of the proper nutrients necessary for a chipmunk's survival.