What Do Chipmunks Eat?

The Siberian chipmunk is the only member of the genus Tamias that is found outside North America. This species is native to the northern parts of Asia. The adult members of this species grow to between 18 and 25cm.

• The Siberian chipmunks are omnivores. Their diet entails lizards, small insects, fruits, berries, nuts, vegetables, little birds, fungi, and seeds.
• The Siberian chipmunks hunt by stalking their prey.

As suggested by its name, the eastern chipmunk is found in the eastern parts of America. The name “striatus” describes the white and black stripes that are present on their bodies. This chipmunk has a brightly colored coat, and it averages about 24.3cm in length.

• Like other chipmunks, this species is also omnivorous. Its diet entails the following food items: tubers, fungi, seeds, nuts, fruits, invertebrates, and small vertebrates with the example of nestlings.
• The hunting strategy used by the eastern chipmunk is forcefully snatching bird eggs and nestlings from bird nests.
• They also stalk small invertebrates before attacking and feeding on them.

As suggested by its name, the least chipmunk is the smallest member of the squirrel family and the smallest chipmunk species. The adult members of this species weigh anything between 42-53g.

• The least chipmunk is also found in wide distribution throughout North America.
• The members of this species can be differentiated because of their small stature, lateral lines that extend on both sides of the head, and long tails.
• The least chipmunk mostly dines on plant material. Their preferred foods entail seeds, young shoots, leaves, flowers, fruits, earthworms, and insects.
• On rare occasions, the least chipmunk feeds on small mammals and small birds.
• The least chipmunk has been observed to look for food both on the ground and in trees.
• These chipmunks can climb up to 9m in search of food.
• The hunting strategy, the least chipmunks, use to find insects, mollusks, and a wide variety of terrestrial worms is stalking.
• The least chipmunk will also rarely plunder birds’ nests to capture bird eggs and nestlings.

As suggested by its name, the red-tailed chipmunk has a reddish-brown tail. This species is relatively larger and darker compared to other chipmunks.

• The typical diet of this chipmunk entails the fruits and seeds of a variety of shrubs and trees.
• They have also been observed to feed on flowers and leaves, particularly currants, dandelion, oyster plant, and glacier lily.
• The red-tailed chipmunk also consumes fungi. On other occasions, the red-tailed chipmunk will also feed on small invertebrates, particularly locusts.
• The hunting strategy used by the red-tailed chipmunk to capture insects is stalking.

Chipmunks are active during the daytime hours. They are likely to be found feeding during the day. They also store food during the day, which comes in handy for them during the harsh winter periods.

Chipmunks eat small amounts of every often (about 6 times a day).

• During the winter period, chipmunks enter into a state of dormancy. They do not necessarily hibernate, but they sleep a lot. During this time, they feed less frequently.

As you probably already know, chipmunks are infamous for storing food in their mouth-making their cheeks bulge-and bringing it back to their nest.

• When it isn’t winter, and they do not have to hibernate, chipmunks have an omnivorous diet.
• However, when it is winter, they typically only eat their stored nuts and seeds between their days of sleep.

Chipmunks drink water – the liquid required by all living things on Earth to survive.

Chipmunks nest and sleep in self-made underground burrows; there are two types: shallow and deep.

• Shallow burrows are usually less complicated than deep burrows since they have fewer entrances, and the individual tunnels aren’t as complicated.
• It should be noted that shallow burrows are generally made for a short stay. In contrast, deep burrows are dug for extended stays (e. g., hibernation).

Chipmunks are usually docile, so it isn’t often that they bite humans unprovoked.

• However, if they get scared or angry, there is a high chance of receiving a bite.
• Please note that chipmunks can transmit diseases, such as tetanus and plague, through a bite.

Chipmunks tend to gather food in places where they can get cover from predators who hunt them for food. Examples of chipmunk predators include but are not limited to foxes, snakes, weasels, hawks, wolves, and coyotes.

Chipmunks play an imperative role in the animal food chain, such that their absence would interfere with the integrity of the food webs within their ecosystems.

• Chipmunks help regulate the local population of the organisms they predate, such as insects, mollusks, and the various terrestrial worms.
• In their role as prey, chipmunks help their predators thrive and to propagate.