If you’re hearing tiny scurries in your walls or seeing neat rows of holes in your flower beds, you likely have chipmunks. This guide is all about how to get rid of chipmunks using simple and effective methods. These striped critters, while cute, can undermine foundations, eat bulbs, and raid bird feeders. Let’s look at ways to reclaim your yard.
First, it’s good to know your opponent. Chipmunks are small, ground-dwelling rodents. They create extensive burrow systems, which can damage landscaping and even cause structural issues. They’re most active during the day, and a single chipmunk can gather a huge amount of food. Understanding this behavior is key to choosing the right control method.
How to Get Rid of Chipmunks
A successful strategy combines making your yard less attractive, using safe repellents, and employing physical barriers. Here’s a step-by-step plan you can follow.
1. Remove the Attractions
Chipmunks come for food, water, and shelter. Take these away, and they’ll look elsewhere.
* Secure Bird Feeders: This is a big one. Use feeders with tight-fitting lids and trays to catch falling seed. Consider switching to a safflower seed, which squirrels and chipmunks tend to avoid. Or, use a pole-mounted feeder with a wide, slippery baffle.
* Clean Up Fallen Fruit and Nuts: Regularly rake up berries, nuts, and seeds from trees. Don’t let them accumulate.
* Protect Your Bulbs and Seedlings: When planting, lay hardware cloth over the bed before adding mulch. Or, plant bulbs inside wire cages.
* Manage Compost: Keep compost bins securely covered. Avoid adding fatty foods or grains that are especially attractive.
* Reduce Cover: Trim back overgrown bushes, clear woodpiles, and stack firewood away from the house. This removes hiding spots and makes them feel exposed.
2. Use Natural Repellents
You can discourage chipmunks with smells and tastes they dislike. Reapply these regularly, especially after rain.
* Spicy Spray: Mix a tablespoon of crushed red pepper or cayenne pepper with a quart of water and a few drops of dish soap. Spray it around plants, borders, and entry points.
* Predator Scents: Granules or sprays containing coyote or fox urine can create a “danger zone” signal. You can find these at garden centers.
* Plant Deterrents: Some plants, like daffodils, alliums, and marigolds, have a reputation for repelling rodents. Plant them around the perimeter of sensitive areas.
3. Install Physical Barriers
Blocking access is one of the most effective long-term solutions.
* Protect Garden Beds: Bury hardware cloth or 1/4-inch mesh wire at least 10 inches deep around the perimeter of a garden bed. Bend the bottom outward in an L-shape to stop them from digging under.
* Guard Trees and Shrubs: Wrap the base of young trees with metal mesh to prevent gnawing on bark.
* Seal Entry Points: Carefully inspect your home’s foundation, steps, and deck skirting. Seal any cracks or holes larger than a dime with steel wool and caulk or hardware cloth. This keeps them from moving in.
4. Live Trapping and Relocation
For a persistent chipmunk or two, live trapping is a humane option. Check your local wildlife regulations first, as relocating animals is illegal in some areas.
1. Get a Small Animal Trap: Use a single-door trap designed for squirrels or chipmunks.
2. Bait It: Peanut butter, sunflower seeds, or a bit of apple work well. Place the bait at the very back of the trap.
3. Set the Trap: Position it near their burrow entrance or along a frequent run (like a fence line). Cover the trap with a light cloth to make it seem safer.
4. Check Frequently: Check the trap at least twice a day. You don’t want to leave a captured animal stressed or exposed for long.
5. Relocate Carefully: Wear gloves. Take the chipmunk at least 5 miles away to a suitable habitat like a wooded area, far from other homes. Release it gently.
5. When to Consider Professional Help
If you have a large infestation, or if chipmunks are causing damage to your home’s structure, it’s time to call a pro. Licensed wildlife control operators can assess the situation, remove animals, and provide expert exclusion work to seal your home permanently. This is often the best solution for peace of mind.
Methods to Avoid
Some methods are ineffective, inhumane, or cause more problems than they solve.
* Ultrasonic Devices: These rarely work as advertised. Chipmunks quickly get used to the noise.
* Mothballs: It’s illegal to use mothballs outdoors, and they are toxic to soil, pets, and children.
* Poison Baits: These are dangerous to pets, beneficial wildlife, and even children. They also cause a suffering death and can lead to animals dying in inaccessible places, creating odor problems.
* Flooding Burrows: This is largely ineffective due to the complex, multi-tunneled nature of chipmunk burrows and can damage your own soil structure.
Prevention: The Best Long-Term Strategy
Once you’ve managed the current population, focus on making your yard a chipmunk-unfriendly zone for good. Maintain those barriers, keep things tidy, and stay vigilant about food sources. A consistent approach is much easier than dealing with a full-blown infestation every year. Remember, the goal isn’t necessarily to harm them, but to encourage them to find a home elsewhere.
FAQ: Common Questions About Chipmunk Control
What is the fastest way to get rid of chipmunks?
Combining live trapping with immediate removal of food sources (like bird seed) is the quickest way to see results. Sealing up entry points to your home should be done right away to.
What smells do chipmunks hate the most?
They strongly dislike peppermint oil, garlic, cayenne pepper, and predator urines like coyote or fox. These can be used to make DIY repellent sprays.
Will coffee grounds keep chipmunks away?
There’s some anecdotal evidence that used coffee grounds can deter them due to the smell, but it’s not a reliable standalone method. It works best when combined with other tactics.
Do chipmunks come back to the same place?
Yes, they are creatures of habit and will return to a reliable food source. That’s why removing attractions and blocking old burrows is so important after you’ve removed them.
Is it bad to have chipmunks in your yard?
In very small numbers, they can be harmless and even provide some aeration to soil. The problems start when their population grows, leading to significant digging, plant loss, and potential structural damage from burrowing under walkways.
By following these practical steps, you can protect your garden and home from chipmunk damage. It takes a bit of patience and persistence, but a chipmunk-free yard is definitely achievable. Start with the easiest fixes like securing bird feeders and removing cover, and then move on to barriers or trapping if needed. Your flowers and foundation will thank you.