Their heads are blunt and squirrel-like and have unique furred cheek pouches in which they carry food and other material. The front teeth are chisel-shaped. Chipmunks may range over an acre, but their individual territories often are much smaller. Plant material such as acorns, hickory nuts, beechnuts, cherry seeds, serviceberries, raspberries, dogwood seeds, corn and plant bulbs are favorites. The main animal foods are birds' eggs, insects, snails, and occasionally mice and young birds.
Chipmunks spend much time in late summer and fall gathering and storing food.
Hard foods are stuffed into their cheek pouches and stored in food caches. They climb shrubs and trees to look for food and to escape enemies. In their woodland habitat, chipmunks may compete for food with other mast-eating animals. When storing excessive amounts, they may limit availability of seeds which might be used by other wildlife, or which would germinate into new plants. When chipmunks move into an urban setting, they may conflict with man.