Stage 2 — Immediate Stabilization & Warmth

1. Use a small secure ventilated box or carrier with smooth fleece/flannel or a T-shirt. Avoid loose loops and frayed towels that catch tiny nails.
2. Place a heating pad on low under half the container, or use a wrapped warm-water/rice source that cannot leak or burn.
3. Keep the container away from drafts, loud voices, children and pets.
4. Do not keep opening the box to check constantly. Stress itself can be dangerous in a small wild rodent.

Hairless neonates need the warmest environment; older furred infants can tolerate less supplemental heat. The animal should feel comfortably warm, not hot, and must always be able to move away from the heat source.

• Bleeding, punctures, swelling, fractures or a dragging limb
• Fly eggs/maggots, heavy fleas/ticks or ants
• Very cold body, limpness, severe weakness or poor response
• Distended hard abdomen or inability to urinate
• Jaw injury or misaligned incisors that could prevent future foraging

Once the chipmunk is safely warm and calm enough to handle briefly, record:

• Weight in grams on a digital gram scale
• Eyes open or closed; fur/stripe development
• Hydration appearance and urine/stool production
• Respiratory rate/effort and any nasal discharge
• Ability to stand, walk and grip
• Injuries, parasites and body condition

Continue weighing at the same time each day during hand-rearing. A trend is more useful than one number.

Chipmunk rehabilitation decisions should be based on the animal’s age, body weight, medical condition, species, season and release habitat. These references provide the practical and veterinary framework used throughout this pathway.