Chipmunks are small, active rodents with a diverse diet, reflecting their opportunistic feeding habits and the seasonal availability of food. Understanding what these creatures consume naturally, as well as what can be offered or should be avoided by humans, provides insight into their well-being.
Natural Food Sources
Chipmunks are omnivores, primarily consuming plant-based foods. They forage on the ground and climb trees to access food. Their diet includes various nuts and seeds.
Acorns
Hickory nuts
Walnuts
Pine nuts
Seeds from trees, grasses, and flowers, such as sunflower and safflower seeds, are also a significant part of their diet.
Chipmunks consume a range of fruits, fungi, and animal protein.
Wild berries
Apples
Pears
Bananas
Oranges
Tomatoes
Squash
Strawberries
Blackberries
They also eat mushrooms and subterranean truffles. Their animal protein sources include insects and small invertebrates.
Grubs
Caterpillars
Beetles
Earthworms
Snails
Small frogs
They may also consume bird eggs.
Chipmunks utilize internal cheek pouches to transport food back to their burrows. They create extensive underground storage areas, known as larder hoards, or bury smaller amounts in scattered caches. This caching behavior is crucial for their survival, providing a food supply during colder months when resources are scarce and they enter periods of torpor. Their habit of burying seeds, some of which are not retrieved, contributes to seed dispersal and forest regeneration.
Foods to Offer and Foods to Avoid
Offering certain foods can supplement a chipmunk’s diet, but it is important to provide items that align with their natural nutritional needs. Safe options include unsalted peanuts, sunflower seeds (in moderation), and unsalted tree nuts like almonds, pecans, and hazelnuts. Small pieces of fresh fruits and vegetables can also be offered, along with cereals.
Apples
Pears
Bananas
Carrots
Sweet potatoes
Cereals suitable for chipmunks include:
Oats
Wheat
Barley
Millet sprays
Conversely, many human foods are harmful. Processed foods, sugary items, and junk food offer little nutritional value and can lead to obesity or digestive issues.
Crisps
Cakes
Biscuits
Candies
Cookies
Chocolate is toxic to chipmunks due to theobromine. Dairy products, including milk and cheese, are unsuitable as chipmunks lack enzymes to digest lactose.
Bread lacks essential protein and vitamins, can expand in their stomachs leading to malnutrition, and may mold quickly if stored. Salted or seasoned foods, such as salted nuts, can cause dehydration and kidney problems. Specific fruits and vegetables contain toxic compounds and should be avoided.
Raw potatoes (especially green parts)
Onions
Garlic
Avocado
Pits and stones from fruits like peaches, plums, and cherries contain poisonous cyanide. Avoid overfeeding wild chipmunks; they should primarily rely on natural food sources to maintain foraging instincts.