Foods

The eastern chipmunk has a relatively varied diet that consists of a various seeds and nuts, insects (earthworms, slugs, snails), mushrooms, birds’ eggs, and occasionally small snakes, frogs, mammals and birds. (Reid, 2006) (Schwartz and Schwartz, 2001) (Synder, 1982).

The eastern chipmunk has large internal cheek pouches, which are used to carry food to the extensive burrow systems (see Topic One) (Schwartz and Schwartz, 2001) (6). According to Reid, 2006  ‘dry foods such as nuts and seeds are gathered in large quantities in late summer and autumn and transported back to the burrow to be stored for the winter’.

This storing behavior is important as the eastern chipmunk hibernates in its burrow from October to February or March without the accumulate of significant stores of body fat. The eastern chipmunk wakes frequently during the hibernation to consume the food it has stored in its during the winter months. The degree of torpor varies between individuals and between populations, location and severe weather (Schwartz and Schwartz, 2001) (Synder, 1982).

Nutritional values from Self Nutrition Data, calculations by Devon Edwards:

Similar to the eastern chipmunk, mallards are omnivorous and opportunistic (Hoyo et al., 1992). Mallards primarily feed on aquatic vegetable matter (seeds and the vegetative parts) that is obtain by upending (see above image) (Lack, 1986). Mallards also consume, invertebrates (insects, molluscs, crustaceans, worms), fish, amphibians, in addition to a variety of plants by ‘dabbling’ at the surface of the water (National Geographic). Mallards also feed/graze in fields on terrestrial plants (seeds and vegetative parts), grains and invertebrates, paticularly in the fall (Snow and Perrins, 1998). Seasonal availability of foods will vary depending on the location of the mallards and region of migration.

Nutritional values from Marconi et al., 2002:

Nutritional values from Self Nutrition Data, calculations by Devon Edwards: