How to Feed a Pet Chipmunk

Chipmunks are easy to please when it comes to food! Unlike most rodents, they are omnivorous in the wild and will eat everything from green vegetables to berries to carrion. They love a variety of foods, so it’s easy to develop a good diet for your pet chipmunk.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Use a commercial seed-based rodent food for your pet chipmunk’s main food. Make sure that the food doesn’t contain too many nuts or sunflower seeds, as these are especially high calorie foods that chipmunks will overindulge in. Place the food in a small dish to keep it contained at feeding time, though your chipmunk will stash food in all corners of his home.

2. Provide your pet with a variety of vegetables and fruits to ensure that she stay healthy. This also replicates the variety she would have in the wild.

3. Allow your chipmunk to cache his food. Chipmunks naturally hoard food by burying it. So provide a deep layer of peat or other material in his living quarters to encourage him to engage in this natural material.

4. Skip feeding at least two days each week to encourage your chipmunk to forage and find the cached food. He will stay happier and more engaged if he must retrieve the food that he has stored.

5. Give your chipmunk treats, like nuts in the shell. The shell allows your chipmunk to wear down her teeth, a necessity for chipmunks, and will help prevent boredom. Let your chipmunk try other healthy foods to see what she likes best.
   
   

6. Provide water in a standard rodent drip bottle. Also provide a salt and mineral lick for your pet chipmunk.

Tips & Warnings

• Feed your pet chipmunks treats from your hand to keep her bonded to you.
• If you notice your chipmunk isn't caching food, be sure to provide food each day.
• Don't feed your pet chipmunk meat, even though they do eat it in the wild.