How good does it feel to have wild animals interact with you. Let me tell you, it feels amazing. In our backyard we have squirrels, chipmunks, skunks, a mole, wild turkeys, groundhogs, a doe and fawn, a fox, coyote, and songbirds.
One of the easiest wild animals to train is the
chipmunk. As they are now emerging from their burrows, now is the time to start training them. Start to make vocal sounds to alert them you are near. I use the "tsk, tsk, tsk" sound. When they look toward you, or stand on their haunches, throw them a shelled peanut. Only use the one vocal sound to call them.
After a few days of throwing them peanuts, entice them to come closer by putting the peanut at your feet while using the vocal sound. Try calling them while kneeling or sitting in the grass or the edge of a step or your porch.
Buy some
black oil sunflower seeds and keep repeating the same routine for another week. Put some sunflower seeds in your hand and call them. Don't move. They are very skiddish. They can smell the seeds. Gently move your hand from side to side slowly.
Eventually, after only two or 3 weeks of patience you can get them up on your lap. They will climb up your legs and sit on your lap while stuffing their cheeks. They'll leave, drop off their stash, and come again. Don't worry, hoarding is their instinct. They'll eat it later. This is how I have trained my chipmunks.
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.jpg "Training and Handfeeding Your Backyard Chipmunks")
