If your chipmunk starts to itch, and their hair starts to fall out they might have a type of mange that is typical for Chipmunks. If this happens you should contact a vet, but if there is no vet available some types of antiseptic ointments might help to curb some of the itching and infection, but what is really needed is to kill the parasite that is causing the problem.

Make a light mixture of sulfur and water. If you use other mange management treatments, you'll want to be careful because they have fragile nervous systems. You need to bath them every day for a while and then put something like Neosporin ointment on them right after they dry.

(Advise from Coy Wallace Midland Animal control postmaster@mail.ci.midland.tx.us City of Midland, Texas,)

other on line contacts Pat Isaacs Fort Mill, SC 29715 Motleyone@aol.com
IWRC/ARC/NWRA www.hometown.aol.com/motleyone/
803 548-4558 FAX / 803 548-4232-H SC Wildlife Permit for Mammals

Kathy Dublin pocowild@ptd.net

Dispelling Mythsand helpful information

Information sent by Erin Allebaugh Outreach Coordinator Wildlife Center of Virginia vet@wildlifecenter.org <vet@wildlifecenter.org>

 I would like to dispel some myths for you and inform you of some information in aiding wild animals. Opposite of the old myth, mother animals (mammals and birds) will NOT abandon their babies if a human has touched it. Prevention and education are the best wildlife rehabilitation, and all animals should remain in the wild with their parents to ensure survival. If a nest is found, simply leave it be until the parents have finished raising their young (which is normally not more than a few days to a few weeks, depending on species). Humans can never properly replace the care of an animal mother. Human intervention should be avoided as much as possible. But sometimes this is not the case, and humans do become involved. The care of any orphaned animal is specific in diet, urination/fecal stimulation, weaning, caging, and the assurance that the wild animal will remain wild and does not become tame/imprinted/habituated.

The wrong diet can cause all sorts of problems, including disease and death.

Being treated as a pet can cause habituation and is a great disservice to the animal once returned to the wild, where the absence of appropriate fear of humans can result in a whole score of problems as well.

In the United States, state and federal law protect all wild animals, therefore only licensed wildlife rehabilitates that have gone through the proper training should care for wildlife

Mites

If your chipmunks are infested with mites... Best treatment would be a
medication called Ivermectin which is given orally or by injection under
the skin (if available). Another possibility would be lime sulfur (again a
medication) that is diluted and applied to the fur/skin. 

Noha Abou-Madi
Lecturer
Division of Wildlife Health
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14850