If you’ve found small teeth marks on your stems or missing green tomatoes, you might be asking: do chipmunks eat tomato plants? The answer, unfortunately for gardeners, is a definite yes. These cute but troublesome rodents are common visitors to vegetable patches, and they can cause surprising damage. This guide will help you understand why they target your garden and, most importantly, how to protect your precious plants effectively.
Chipmunks are opportunistic omnivores. While they love nuts and seeds, a lush garden offers a tempting buffet. They don’t just eat the fruit; they’ll nibble on leaves, chew tender stems, and dig up roots. Their activity is often most noticeable in the early morning or late afternoon. You might see the damage before you see the animal itself.
Do Chipmunks Eat Tomato Plants
They certainly do. Chipmunks are attracted to tomato plants for several reasons. The plants provide food, shelter, and sometimes even a source of water. Understanding their behavior is the first step to managing them.
What Parts of the Tomato Plant Do They Target?
Chipmunks aren’t particularly picky. They will consume various parts of the plant, depending on what’s available and the time of season.
* Green and Ripe Tomatoes: They’ll take bites out of low-hanging fruit, often leaving partially eaten tomatoes on the vine or ground. They seem to enjoy the seeds and juicy interior.
* Seedlings and Young Plants: Tender shoots and stems are easy to chew through, which can kill a young plant outright.
* Leaves: While not their first choice, they will nibble on foliage.
* Roots: Their burrowing can disturb root systems, especially in container plants, stressing or damaging the plant.
Why Your Garden is So Appealing
Your well-tended plot is like a five-star resort for chipmunks. It provides everything they need in one convenient location. Beyond the tomatoes themselves, they are drawn to other common garden features.
* Shelter: Dense plants, woodpiles, and garden debris offer perfect hiding spots from predators.
* Water: Dripping hoses, bird baths, and even the moisture in the soil are valuable water sources.
* Other Food Sources: Bird feeders, fallen fruit, and bulb plantings are like a complimentary breakfast bar, encouraging them to stick around.
Signs Chipmunks Are Visiting Your Tomatoes
It’s important to correctly identify the culprit. Other animals like squirrels, birds, or insects can also cause damage. Look for these telltale signs of chipmunk activity:
* Small, neat teeth marks on fruits and stems.
* Partially eaten tomatoes, often starting from the bottom.
* Small, shallow holes dug near plants or in containers.
* Distinctive, tiny footprints in soft soil.
* Seeing the chipmunks themselves, especially at dawn or dusk.
Effective Strategies to Protect Your Tomato Plants
A combination of methods usually works best. Persistence is key, as chipmunks are clever and will test your defenses. Here’s a multi-layered plan to safeguard your harvest.
1. Physical Barriers (The Most Reliable Method)
Blocking access is often the most effective long-term solution. It requires some initial effort but pays off all season.
* Fencing: Use 1/4-inch hardware cloth. Bury it at least 6 inches deep and extend it about 12 inches above ground to prevent both digging and climbing.
* Cages and Cloches: Place wire cages or cloches over individual young plants. Make sure the mesh is small enough to prevent chipmunks from reaching through.
* Tree Wraps/Stem Guards: Wrap the lower 12-18 inches of main stems with plastic or metal guards to prevent gnawing.
2. Natural Deterrents and Repellents
These methods aim to make your garden less inviting. You’ll need to reapply or rotate them regularly, especially after rain.
* Sprinkle Cayenne Pepper: Dusting plants and the surrounding soil with cayenne or a commercial hot pepper spray can deter nibbling. Reapply after watering.
* Use Predator Scents: Granules or sprays containing fox or coyote urine can create a sense of danger. Apply around the garden perimeter.
* Plant Deterrents: Some gardeners report success with planting strong-smelling herbs like garlic, mint, or marigolds nearby, though this is more of a supportive tactic.
3. Habitat Modification
Make your yard less chipmunk-friendly. The goal is to remove the comforts of home that encourage them to settle in.
* Clear Clutter: Remove rock piles, wood stacks, and thick brush near the garden.
* Secure Other Food: Use baffles on bird feeder poles, pick up fallen fruit promptly, and consider pausing bird feeding during the peak tomato season.
* Protect Bulbs: When planting other items like flower bulbs, lay hardware cloth over the bed before covering with soil to protect them from digging.
4. Safe Trapping and Relocation (Check Local Laws)
Live trapping is an option for persistent problems, but it must be done responsibly. Always check your state and local wildlife regulations before attempting to trap and relocate any animal. Relocation can often be a death sentence for the animal and may spread disease.
* Use small, humane live traps baited with peanut butter or sunflower seeds.
* Place traps along their common runways, near the garden edge.
* Relocate the chipmunk at least 5 miles away in a suitable habitat, only if permitted by law.
What Not to Do: Ineffective or Harmful Tactics
Some commonly suggested methods are either ineffective, inhumane, or can cause more problems.
* Ultrasonic Devices: These have very mixed reviews and are often ineffective outdoors.
* Mothballs: They are toxic to the soil, wildlife, pets, and children. They are also illegal to use for pest control in this manner.
* Poison: This is dangerous, inhumane, and can kill beneficial animals, pets, or birds of prey that eat the poisoned chipmunk. It should never be used.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Do chipmunks eat tomato plants at night?
A: Chipmunks are primarily diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. Most damage will occur in daylight hours, especially early morning. If damage happens purely at night, consider other pests like rats or possums.
Q: Will coffee grounds keep chipmunks away?
A: There’s little solid evidence that coffee grounds are a reliable deterrent. While some gardeners swear by them, its best to use proven methods like physical barriers first. They can be a good addition to your compost though.
Q: What’s the difference between chipmunk damage and squirrel damage?
A: Squirrels cause larger, more destructive damage. They often take whole fruits or leave large, ragged bites. Chipmunk damage is smaller and more precise, with neat teeth marks. Squirrels are also more likely to dig up entire plants.
Q: Can I use a pet to deter chipmunks?
A: The presence of a cat or dog can sometimes deter chipmunks. However, this is not a guaranteed control method and should not be relied upon solely. Always prioritize your pet’s safety and ensure they are not harmed by or harming wildlife.
Q: Do chipmunks eat the leaves of tomato plants or just the fruit?
A: They prefer the fruit, but chipmunks will eat leaves and stems, especially on young, tender plants. This is often more damaging than the fruit loss, as it can kill the plant.
Protecting your tomato plants from chipmunks requires a bit of patience and strategy. Start by correctly identifying the damage, then implement a combination of physical barriers and habitat changes. Remember that consistency is crucial—these little animals are persistent. By taking proactive steps early in the season, you can greatly reduce problems and look forward to a bountiful, chipmunk-free tomato harvest.