It doesn't take a lot for a chipmunk infestation to drive you nutty
From their little paws to their chubby cheeks, chipmunks are pretty adorable when you have a normal amount of them in your yard. But if you want to know how to get rid of chipmunks or deter them from making your yard their home, you’re not alone.
These fluffy thieves steal seeds, eat plants, and can even threaten the structure of your patio in large numbers. Thankfully, there are plenty of chipmunk repellents and removal tactics that will not hurt your local furry friends.
Building barriers both under and above ground are a major part of integrated pest management. Keep chipmunks out of your garden by adding a permeable barrier a few inches under the earth or over the area in danger. You can use a barrier of gravel, wire mesh, or garden fabric, to name a few.
Here's how to go about it.
Dig a thin trench around your garden, fence, porch, or other trouble areas.
Bury a permeable mesh, pour loose gravel, or line the trench with garden fabric.
You can also place the barrier above the ground, surrounding the base of your flowers and vegetable plants.
The Humane Society recommends bending the barrier into an L-shape to keep the chipmunk from easily digging around it.
Your bird feeder could be one of the first items attracting chipmunks to your lawn. Keep all bird feeders and birdbaths off the ground. Yes, chipmunks can climb, but they are less likely to go out of their way for bird seed out of reach. Additionally, always be sure to clean up any fallen seed knocked to the ground by the birds.
Other than seeds in your feeder, your yard is packed with delicious treats for chipmunks. While you shouldn't have to give up on planting a vegetable garden to get rid of chipmunks, you can discourage access.
A few tactics include:
Remove low-hanging vegetables when they sprout and ripen.
Pick up fallen fruit from trees and bushes as soon as they fall.
Rake up acorns and pine cones in the fall.
Control the bug population in your yard and garden.
There are plenty of odors that chipmunks detest. The smell of humans will scare them away, so consider spreading hair clippings, old clothing, or old kitchen towels in the garden, even as barriers. They also detest the scent of items like peppermint, garlic, hot spices, eucalyptus, and cinnamon, just to name a few.
You'll find many of these mixtures in store-bought chipmunk repellents that come in spray or powder form. Always follow the instructions on any pest repellent, even with organic or “natural” ingredients.
Also, be careful about spreading essential oils or hot spices in areas where your pets roam, as they can get them on their paws and fur.
Ultrasonic devices emit a low tone—so low that humans can't hear it—that will scare away chipmunks and other animals and insects from your lawn. Just remember that your dog may pick up the sound as well and not love roaming through your yard.
However, these devices are natural chipmunk repellents that can deter all above-ground creatures from taking over your outdoor living space.
You'll notice that some of the chipmunk's least favorite flavors and scents are also common or easy-to-plant garden items.
Consider creating a barrier around your flower beds or veggie garden by planting:
Daffodils
Marigolds
Alliums
Garlic (to deter underground chipmunks)
Peppermint
Chives
Echinacea
Lavender
Sage
Because chipmunks love burrowing, having a yard full of sticks, leaves, and weeds can make it even easier for them to reside in your lawn. They’re also attracted to brush and other lawn clutter, so removing as many of these hiding spots as possible can help keep chipmunks at bay.
If a team of chipmunks insists on ruining all your gardening work, it may be time to relocate them to another area. However, we recommend calling an animal control specialist in most instances to avoid injury to yourself or the animal. Be sure to find a team that ensures they use humane trap-and-release methods.
However, with the proper precautions, you can purchase baited traps that do not harm the chipmunk and keep you from having to handle them. Still, always wear thick clothing and gloves when releasing chipmunks from the traps.
It is important to drive at least five miles from your home to an area with ample food, water, and shelter to keep the chipmunks from coming right back. Speak with your local animal control department about the best place to bring them.
Trapped animals can be dangerous, no matter their size. Do not attempt to handle them—call in a pro for safe removal instead.
As with any type of wildlife, permanently getting rid of chipmunks may not be possible, but there’s plenty you can do to keep them away. Prevention is always the safest and most effective approach to long-term pest and animal control.
You can begin these prevention methods at the same time as getting rid of your current chipmunks. Prevention, like control methods, also comes down to removing food, hiding places, and water sources.
Remove leaf piles, piles of stones, and firewood to deter chipmunks from hiding from sight.
Keep your yard tidy from any plants that drop seeds throughout the season. This will also help you get rid of mice and other pests.
Trim tree branches to deter chipmunks from making the leap to your roof.
Control pest population on your lawn.
Dig up old tree stumps after removing a tree.
Cover your garbage and recycling areas.
You may spot the damage caused by chipmunks before spotting the chipmunks themselves. But before narrowing your search to these fluffy creatures, learn how to tell what animal is digging holes in your yard. Chipmunks are small and quick, and they don't have any interest in getting caught, but the following signs will help you determine if they’re your problem or not in no time.
They are also adept at hiding in small spaces, especially if you have a dense landscape or a lawn with multiple structures.
A few major signs of a chipmunk problem are:
Seeds and bulbs removed from your garden
Small holes and dirt piles in your yard or garden
Destroyed flowers and leaves
Nibbled fruits and vegetables in your garden
Toppled or emptied bird feeds
A sunken lawn or damage to your foundation by a chipmunk is rare. However, if you notice sunken areas around the edge of your foundation from chipmunks or other burrowing animals, it's best to call a foundation specialist in your area for a look.
Learning how to keep chipmunks out of your garden is an entry-level DIY that is easily managed with preventative measures. If you're concerned that a few chipmunk visitors have tipped into an infestation, we recommend calling a local animal removal company before risking handing the little creatures.
Animal removal costs between $200 and $600 for squirrels and similar rodents, but this depends on how far the pro will travel and their particular methods. Many companies will offer longer-term monitoring services to make sure your large chipmunk population is under control for good.
Anecdotal evidence suggests coffee grounds can keep chipmunks away. Sprinkle them throughout your garden, yard, and plants to help deter them. As an added bonus, coffee grounds can help keep the slugs away, and they’re great for acid-loving plants such as hydrangeas, azaleas, and rhododendrons.
Yes, chipmunk holes may have two or more entrances. Chipmunks can create an entire network of burrows. Having multiple entrances makes it easier for them when trying to escape from a predator, such as a snake, or if an entrance collapses due to flooding. Each entrance leads to the nesting chamber underground, which is where the chipmunk spends the majority of its time sleeping.
Chipmunks dig their burrows about three feet deep and up to 30 feet long. The entrances can be two inches wide or more. Chipmunks are fiercely protective of their burrows and use them to protect the nuts and seeds they gather for the long winters.
