Chipmunks in eastern North Carolina? A rare sighting in Wilmington has N.C. Wildlife officials curious. Normally, chipmunks in North Carolina are known to live north and west of Wake County. Author: Brian Bennett Updated: 5:16 PM EDT May 27, 2021 RALEIGH, N.C. — A recent photo submitted to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has biologists pondering if North Carolina chipmunks have now expanded to eastern parts of the state. Normally, chipmunks in North Carolina are known to live north and west of Wake County. “We recently received an observation with photos of a chipmunk in the Wilmington area. It is likely a case of hitchhiking, however, we’d like the public to notify us of any chipmunk sightings east of Wake county,” stated Andrea Shipley, a mammalogist with the Wildlife Commission.