Most people, who spend time outside, are aware of the Eastern Chipmunk, a common resident of most wood lots, hedgerows, and campgrounds. It is a small member of a large family of rodents that includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, and marmots.
Chipmunks live in burrows excavated in the ground, and they're more frequently heard than seen.
Additionally, their movements are jerky and quick, so if you are not looking directly at them when they move, you're likely to miss them. They often sit very still as you approach, and then like a flash they dash under a log or into a hole they always have close by. Seeds, berries, fruit, nuts, bulbs, insects, and eggs make up most of the chipmunk's diet, but they will also eat meat. Since they are only partial hibernators, they need food in the winter, and they are common visitors at bird feeders in the middle of the winter. Additionally, they store food in the fall for later use.