Chipmunks are omnivores with a diverse diet that includes both plant and animal matter. Their typical food consists of:
- Nuts such as acorns, pecans, walnuts, pine nuts, and peanuts (often preferred in the shell)
- Seeds, including sunflower seeds and bird seeds
- Fruits like apples, pears, bananas, oranges, berries, peaches, and dried apricots
- Vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, bean sprouts, squash, and leafy greens
- Grains and cereals including oats, wheat, barley, corn, and millet
- Fungi and mushrooms
- Insects, worms, centipedes, millipedes, and other arthropods
- Bird eggs and occasionally small birds
- Small rodents, frogs, and snakes on rare occasions
In the wild, chipmunks forage for these foods on the ground and in trees, often collecting and storing nuts and seeds for later consumption. They may also eat flower bulbs and seedlings, which can make them garden pests. Pet chipmunks require a balanced diet similar to their wild diet, including cereals, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and fresh water. Baby chipmunks initially rely on their mother's milk but gradually transition to soft fruits and seeds as they grow
