Chipmunks and Chipmunk Control - Part 5 of 9 - What Chipmunks Eat

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The typical chipmunk diet will consist of the grains, fruits, nuts, seeds, plants, and mushrooms specific to its living habitat. However, many chipmunks have also been known to eat insects and some may consume small or young animals and even young birds, lizards, and bird eggs.

All chipmunks that hibernate collect food in their cheek pouches and store it either in chambers designated for this purpose inside their burrow or in food caches that they have buried. The chipmunk requires this food source because unlike most hibernating animals, the chipmunk does not gain excessive weight through the summer and fall months to sustain it through the winter. The chipmunk will periodically wake throughout the winter to consume this food and at times, when the weather is suitable, exit its burrow to explore its surroundings.

The lodgepole chipmunk is known as a notorious stealer of bird eggs.

Acknowledgment:

• David E. Williams, 1994. Chipmunks: Prevention and control of wildlife damage. State Director. USDA-APHIS Animal Damage Control. Lincoln, Nebraska
  
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Animal Diversity Web