How To Get Rid Of Chipmunks

6. Protect bird feeders from dropping seeds – Birds are excellent pest control experts in their own right, and creating a wildlife garden with a bird feeder is a great way to encourage these creatures into your yard. The downside is that birdseed is a perfect snack for chipmunks, encouraging them into your space too.

• If you have bird feeders, protect them,’ says Jordan Foster, pest control supervisor.
• Ground feeder chipmunks are drawn to seeds spilled from bird feeders.
• Frequently clean up the seeds.
• The type of seed you choose should not attract chipmunks like thistle.
• Bird feeders should be placed at least 15 to 30 feet from any structure.’ ‘You should never store food outside, including pet food and birdseed, unless stored in rodent-proof containers.’ he adds.

H&G also rounded up some excellent methods to keep squirrels away from bird feeders that can work with opportunistic chipmunks too.

How do you get rid of chipmunks fast?

How do you get rid of chipmunks fast? – If there are only one or two chipmunks to handle, the fastest way to get rid of them humanely is to use a trap. However, if there are multiple chipmunks, it may be faster to use an electronic repellent or predator urine.

What do chipmunks hate the most?

Tips For Coping With Those Pesky Chipmunks If this year’s bumper crop of chipmunks has you contemplating lethal measures, experts offer several less drastic options. By mid-summer, it’s too late for a pest removal company to have much of an impact, since most chipmunks have had their second litter by July, says Michael Caldwell, owner of Michael’s Carpenter Ant & Termite Service of East Granby.

• There’s no single, scientifically proven method to remove chipmunks, but experts suggest multiple steps to at least take away the welcome mat and reduce the critters’ destruction.
• For starters, chipmunks choose homes where they can hide from predators, seeking out stone walls, wood piles, deep mulch, shrubs and dense ground cover, says Carol Quish, horticulturist at UConn’s Home and Garden Education Center.
• “Think about the whole system and how you can interrupt what’s making them happy in that system,” she says.

>> Keep mulch thick enough to control weeds, but not so deep that it creates a burrowing spot for chipmunks. (Caldwell favors stone over mulch in the landscape because it’s less hospitable to several pests.) >> When chipmunks become active in early spring, remove food sources, like bird feeders. Chipmunks love seeds. Planting sunflower seeds is like “putting out truffles for them,” Quish says. >> Frighten them away with a rotating collection of scare tactics — strategically placed rubber snakes, Mylar balloons, balloons with a giant eye, old CDs hung to catch the light, Christmas tinsel, a child’s pinwheel and bobble-headed owls, experts say. Move items around because chipmunks catch on after a few days. >> Introduce smells, tastes and sounds that repel them. Chipmunks don’t like pepper, garlic or mint. Sprinkle cayenne pepper and garlic into garden beds and pots, repeating every few days in hot, humid weather. Create a hostile environment for their ears by alternately blaring music, setting your phone to obnoxious alarm sounds or using sound-emitting devices. >> Commercial products created to repel deer should work just as well against chipmunks, Quish says, since neither likes mint, rotten eggs, garlic or hot red pepper, which are commonly found in those products. Deer Scram and Deer Out, both organic, effectively repel chipmunks as well as deer. >> Joe Magazzi, co-owner of Green Earth Ag & Turf in Branford, suggests repelling chipmunks by placing dryer sheets in chipmunk holes and around your garden and flower beds. >> Dab a few drops of essential peppermint oil onto cotton balls, place into a zippered plastic bag and poke holes into the bag, suggests Quish. Hang the bags near chipmunk activity and they’ll stay away for at least a few weeks, she says. When you no longer smell the mint, reapply. >> To evict chipmunks, Quish sprinkles black pepper directly into their holes. Or, place dried blood or human hair near or inside their holes, says Nancy DuBrule-Clemente, owner of Natureworks in North Branford.

1. >> Avoid moth balls or moth flakes because they’re toxic to wildlife and people, Quish says.
2. If chipmunks are digging through your flower pots, place aluminum foil on top of the soil; chipmunks don’t like walking on it.
3. Finally, enlist some help: Invite chipmunk predators into your yard by installing a tall post from which birds of prey can perch.

: Tips For Coping With Those Pesky Chipmunks

Is there a natural way to get rid of chipmunks?

Add some spice: Sprinkling cayenne, chili powder or other hot, intense spices around your garden is a non-toxic way to discourage chipmunks from hanging around. Gardeners also report success deterring chipmunks with a generous sprinkling of medicated powder.

What can I pour down chipmunk holes to get rid of them?

While we’ve previously discussed the finer points of getting rid of squirrels in your home, a close relative of the squirrel also needs to stay away. Chipmunks might seem cute and harmless, but they too can cause a lot of damage to your home and yard. Fortunately, there are at least 5 possible ways to get rid of chipmunks from your home and property before they take over!, via Wikimedia Commons” href=”https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tamias_striatus2.jpg” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”> 1. Eliminate food sources. Chipmunks will eat almost anything, including grass, garden plants, bird seed and food scraps. They have also been known to eat other small rodents and birds, however they are not active predators. Simply keep your yard tidy and free of food scraps, and you’ll make it less tempting for these little critters to move in.2.

• Use mothballs and other deterrants.
• Chipmunks are not fond of mothballs.
• Place mothballs around the foundation of your house and in any known chipmunk holes.
• This will not kill the critters, but they’ll begin to notice the neighborhood isn’t very friendly.
• Anther helpful deterrant is bloodmeal, which you can sprinkle around.

For protecting tender plants and vegetables, using a simple solution of hot sauce and cayenne peppers mixed in a spray bottle should do the trick. Remember to spray frequently for the solution to work effectively.3. Set a trap! After eliminating food sources and setting up deterrants, your next step in getting rid of chipmunks is to remove residual animals with a trap,

The most common form of trap is a metal cage in which are easily baited with peanuts or other food items. The traps will then close once the chipmunk gets inside and starts eating the food. Be sure to check your trap periodically so that you can remove the critters in accordance with animal control laws in Cobb and Fulton counties.4.

Enlist your pets. For pet owners, enlist the help of your dog or cat to roam around outdoors. This will often scare the chipmunks away, as most pets will chase them. Keep in mind however, that even though chipmunks are quite fast and will often escape, this is the natural method that can result in chipmunks being killed if your pet manages to catch them.

If you do find dead animals in your yard, be sure to wear disposable gloves when handling and removing the carcass, and wash your hands thoroughly.5. Call the professionals at SWAT If none of the above methods work, you don’t have enough time, or there are simply too many chipmunks for you to handle, the other option available to you is to simply call SWAT Services to handle the situation.

We are trained in all the ways to get rid of chipmunks, squirrels and other critters that can damage your home and yard.

What will keep chipmunks away?

Place ultrasonic sound devices around your yard. – Whatever you do, Schoenberg strongly recommends avoiding toxic repellents, “While I agree that chipmunks are a nuisance, poisoning them is definitely not a recommended way,” she says. Her best long-term suggestion is to pick up ultrasonic devices at your local hardware store or purchase a few online.

What attracts chipmunks?

Best Chipmunk Baits | How to Bait a Chipmunk Trap Once you’ve selected a, you must choose a bait that will lure chipmunks inside – and position it strategically. Learn about recommended baits, proper bait placement and other expert baiting tips below. Chipmunks are attracted to a variety of foods, especially nuts, grains, and berries. More important than the bait you choose is how you place it inside the live trap. It’s critical that you bait your trap carefully and strategically in order to successfully make a catch. The way in which you position your bait should:

Force the chipmunk to fully enter the trap (body and tail). Encourage the chipmunk to engage the trigger (step on the metal plate). Take into consideration the trap’s door configuration (1 vs.2-door):

1-DOOR TRAP – Position bait in the END For a 1-door trap, place the bait directly behind the trigger plate. Keep the bait as far from the walls as possible so the chipmunk cannot reach in and steal it.2-DOOR TRAP – Position bait in the CENTER For a 2-door trap, you may choose to place the bait just behind the trigger, bury it in the ground underneath the plate/trap, or hang it from the top of your trap.

Chipmunks may avoid your trap if it carries any trace of human scent, so wear gloves when handling and baiting your trap. Lure your chipmunk into the trap by creating a trail of bait leading to the trigger plate. Smear peanut butter onto the trigger plate to engage your chipmunk directly with the plate. After baiting your trap, make sure that there is no bait in the way of the trigger-and-close mechanism. Test it by gently pressing on the plate – the doors should close with little force. To learn more about chipmunk trapping, read For more baiting tips, read

: Best Chipmunk Baits | How to Bait a Chipmunk Trap

What odors do chipmunks dislike?

Strong scents: Strong scents like cayenne pepper, vinegar, or ammonia can be used to discourage squirrels and chipmunks. Citrus scents: The smell of citrus is unpleasant to squirrels and chipmunks.

What is the problem with chipmunks?

Why Are Chipmunks a Problem? – They’re more a nuisance than a problem. The biggest issue homeowners have with North American chipmunks is their propensity to engineer a system of tunnels under walkways, stairs, patios and foundations. Another common complaint: Chipmunks dig through flower beds and uproot vegetable patches when foraging for food.

What is the best homemade chipmunk repellent?

9. Essential Oils – Two tablespoons of peppermint oil in a spray bottle filled with one cup of water is a great way to repel chipmunks. The strong scent will deter them, and they’ll avoid your yard completely. Other essential oils that work perfectly for your chipmunk deterrent spray include citrus, eucalyptus, cinnamon, and clove oil.

Will baking soda get rid of chipmunks?

2. Repellents – To make exclusion methods as effective as possible, pair them with a homemade chipmunk deterrent. Here’s what we recommend:

• Use store-bought Thiram on your plant bulbs, bark, and stems to discourage chipmunk predation.
• Apply Bonide Repels-All Animal Repellent to the area around your yard and garden. This product naturally deters chipmunks and is safe for use around people and pets. Apply the granules every day until they’re gone. We recommend applying more than the label says.
• Scatter moth balls or flakes (generic name Naphthalene ) around your gardens or any place you’ve noticed chipmunk predation.
• Use strong-smelling substances like coffee grounds or vinegar to keep chipmunks away.
• Make a homemade chipmunk repellent by combining chopped hot peppers or cayenne powder with a few cups of water. Simmer the mixture for 5-10 minutes, allow it to cool, blend it, strain out the solids, and transfer it to a clean spray bottle. Spray the mixture anywhere you’ve noticed chipmunk predation.
• Use motion-activated sprays of water to deter chipmunks and other pests.
• Use store-bought, non-toxic liquid repellents to spray on infested areas. Remember to reapply every time you water your garden and after every rainstorm. To protect your bulbs, dip them directly into liquid repellent before you plant them. Store-bought granular repellents may last longer than liquid varieties and will repel chipmunks without killing them.

One question we hear often is, “will baking soda get rid of chipmunks?” Unfortunately, that’s an old wives’ tale. Chipmunks don’t view baking soda as a deterrent and won’t stay out of your garden no matter how much you sprinkle around. Pros : Effective, non-toxic, humane, safe for non-target species Cons : Requires regular re-application, especially after watering or rainstorms

What household product kills chipmunks?

Snap Traps – If you are using a snap trap, keep the trap away from children, pets, or other wildlife. Peanut butter is an excellent bait. You can prebait a trap by placing the bait on the trigger without setting the trigger to condition the new object’s chipmunk.

Do chipmunks eat mice?

It is an omnivore, feeding on both plants and other animals. Its diet includes slugs, insect larvae, earthworms, snails, and butterflies, and it will occasionally eat frogs, bird eggs, birds and mice. It also feeds on acorns, nuts, leaves, buds, mushrooms, fruits, berries and seeds.

Should you fill in chipmunk holes?

Chipmunk holes can be filled using dirt, but they are likely to dig them back out again. While cat litter has been recommended to fill holes, the practice isn’t advised.

Can chipmunks dig through concrete?

By Chris Williams on June 30, 2011. – Q. Our front sidewalk has cracked in several places and a contractor said it was because of chipmunks burrowing under the sidewalk. Can a little chipmunk cause that kind of damage? A. In a wordyes. Chipmunks are cute; there’s no denying that.

They are high energy and everyone loves to laugh at their cheek pouches bulging with collected food. Sometimes those pouches are full of soil that they have cleared out of their burrows under your sidewalk! Chipmunks can become pests in residential areas in the following ways: 1) Their extensive burrows, often under patio slabs, foundations, concrete steps, stone walls, or sheds are unsightly and can result in collapse of the slab or wall 2) They can make a mess in a garden by digging up garden seeds and flower bulbs, and feeding on berries and other fruits 3) They raid bird feeders and pet food left outside Chipmunks are members of the squirrel family which means they are also rodents but, unlike tree squirrels, chipmunks are smaller ground dwellers.

The eastern chipmunk is rusty brown with five black and two beige stripes on its back, is about 6 inches long, and weighs only 2.5 to 4 ounces. It has a hairy 3-4 inch long tail that it carries upright when it runs. Chipmunks mostly live at ground level but they can climb trees and will climb downspouts to get to rooftops. Chipmunks nest in underground burrows. Their burrow entrances are neat, round holes about two inches in diameter which have been cleared of loose dirt. Burrows are often located under an object like a rotten log, stump, or rock. Unfortunately, a concrete slab like a sidewalk or patio serves just as well as a rock.

From the entrance, the burrow plunges straight down for a few inches, then gradually descends to a depth of about 3 feet. Now for the really bad news! After four or five years, the average chipmunk’s burrow may have been extended to a length of 30 feet, with several openings and as many as six nesting or food chambers.

Over time, the amount of soil excavated from under a slab can undermine the slab causing it to crack or collapse. Chipmunks are particularly attracted to homes on wooded lots, or with dense shrubbery, or with rock walls or outbuildings for den sites. Chipmunks are solitary, living in separate dens.

The home range of a chipmunk is usually less than a half acre, and often no more than 12,000 square feet. They rarely travel more than 75 yards from their den. The outer fringes of one chipmunk’s range may overlap with that of another chipmunk. Populations as high as 10 chipmunks per acre are possible if sufficient food and cover are available.

In late October or November, chipmunks retire to their dens for a semi-hibernation. They plug their burrow entrances during cold weather and live on food cached inside. In early spring, they emerge to breed. Chipmunks are protected in some states. Live trapping is one control method when chipmunks become a problem that you just can’t live with.

How deep is a chipmunk hole?

Although they can climb trees, they spend most of their lives on the ground or underground in burrows that may reach 30 feet long and 3 feet deep. These burrow systems include nesting chambers and storage rooms for nuts and seeds that provide chipmunks with food throughout the winter.

What smells do squirrels and chipmunks hate?

Use Strong Odors – Scents like white pepper, black pepper, and garlic are naturally unpleasant to a squirrel. The same goes for sweet smells such as peppermint. Try spraying your plants and flowers with water and then sprinkling on pepper or peppermint oil to deter squirrels.

Will garlic keep chipmunks away?

Garlic and Hot Pepper Spray – Garlic is highly offensive to chipmunks, so you can plant bulbs of garlic in areas of your garden being attacked. You can also create an offensive liquid repellent. Supplies for a spray include:

• 1 gallon plastic jug
• 2 garlic bulbs
• 3 to 4 chili peppers
• Cheesecloth
• Garden sprayer

Instructions:

1. Cut up two garlic bulbs.
2. Chop up three to four hot chili peppers.
3. Place garlic and peppers in food processor and pulse until not quite a paste.
4. Fill a gallon jug ¾ full with water.
5. Add garlic and chili pepper mixture by the spoonful.
6. Cap the plastic jug and shake contents vigorously.
7. You can use the solution immediately or allow it to percolate 24 hours.
8. Using a cheesecloth, pour the contents of the jug into a garden spraying allowing the cheesecloth to filter out any chunks and pieces.
9. Attach the sprayer and use the filtered solution to spray your garden.
10. Target favorite chipmunk areas.
11. The garlic/pepper solution is also a great method for controlling insect pests.
12. Repeat every two weeks or more often if you have frequent rain showers.

Should I get rid of chipmunks?

Tolerance – Some people believe that chipmunk tunnels under walkways and in the yard truly cause damage. Taking advantage of that misconception, some wildlife control businesses will trap and kill chipmunks for a fee. But this isn’t necessary. If you have chipmunks in your yard, enjoy them. The pleasure they can give will outweigh any problems they may cause.

What is best bait for chipmunks?

How to Get Rid of Chipmunk Problems with Proper Trap Baiting – Properly baiting a chipmunk trap is important. Did you know that chipmunks are peanut butter connoisseurs? They even enjoy a morsel of cheese now and then. Other effective chipmunk bait includes prune pits, unroasted peanuts, corn, sunflower seeds, cereal, grains and popcorn.

What are chipmunks enemies?

Chipmunks eat a variety of foods like bird eggs, mushrooms, plants, bulbs and seeds, nuts and more. Predators of chipmunks include hawks, owls, snakes, domestic cats, raccoons, foxes and more.

What household product kills chipmunks?

Snap Traps – If you are using a snap trap, keep the trap away from children, pets, or other wildlife. Peanut butter is an excellent bait. You can prebait a trap by placing the bait on the trigger without setting the trigger to condition the new object’s chipmunk.

Will baking soda get rid of chipmunks?

2. Repellents – To make exclusion methods as effective as possible, pair them with a homemade chipmunk deterrent. Here’s what we recommend:

• Use store-bought Thiram on your plant bulbs, bark, and stems to discourage chipmunk predation.
• Apply Bonide Repels-All Animal Repellent to the area around your yard and garden. This product naturally deters chipmunks and is safe for use around people and pets. Apply the granules every day until they’re gone. We recommend applying more than the label says.
• Scatter moth balls or flakes (generic name Naphthalene ) around your gardens or any place you’ve noticed chipmunk predation.
• Use strong-smelling substances like coffee grounds or vinegar to keep chipmunks away.
• Make a homemade chipmunk repellent by combining chopped hot peppers or cayenne powder with a few cups of water. Simmer the mixture for 5-10 minutes, allow it to cool, blend it, strain out the solids, and transfer it to a clean spray bottle. Spray the mixture anywhere you’ve noticed chipmunk predation.
• Use motion-activated sprays of water to deter chipmunks and other pests.
• Use store-bought, non-toxic liquid repellents to spray on infested areas. Remember to reapply every time you water your garden and after every rainstorm. To protect your bulbs, dip them directly into liquid repellent before you plant them. Store-bought granular repellents may last longer than liquid varieties and will repel chipmunks without killing them.

One question we hear often is, “will baking soda get rid of chipmunks?” Unfortunately, that’s an old wives’ tale. Chipmunks don’t view baking soda as a deterrent and won’t stay out of your garden no matter how much you sprinkle around. Pros : Effective, non-toxic, humane, safe for non-target species Cons : Requires regular re-application, especially after watering or rainstorms

What smells do squirrels and chipmunks hate?

Use Strong Odors – Scents like white pepper, black pepper, and garlic are naturally unpleasant to a squirrel. The same goes for sweet smells such as peppermint. Try spraying your plants and flowers with water and then sprinkling on pepper or peppermint oil to deter squirrels.