A chipmunk can carry food weighing up to 80% of its own body weight in its cheek pouches.

Chipmunks belong to the genus Tamias and are equipped with internal cheek pouches called diplostomes. These pouches are specialized folds of skin that extend from the mouth back to the shoulders. Unlike some rodents with external pouches, chipmunks can expand these internal pockets to hold a volume nearly equal to their own head size. This anatomical adaptation is critical for their survival during the winter months.Research published by the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History indicates that a single eastern chipmunk can gather up to 165 acorns in just one day. By filling their pouches to 80% of their body mass, they maximize the efficiency of each foraging trip. This behavior is a form of central place foraging, where the animal minimizes the number of trips to reduce the risk of being caught by hawks, foxes, or snakes. A single chipmunk can store over 8 pounds of food in its burrow to last through the cold season.The pouches are kept dry by specialized glands, which prevents the seeds from germinating or molding while being transported. When the chipmunk reaches its larder, it uses its front paws to squeeze the food out of the pouches from the outside in. This mechanical process is incredibly fast, allowing them to empty their load and return to foraging within seconds. This evolutionary trait has made them one of the most successful small mammals in North American deciduous forests.