By Andréana Lefton and Bob Vila | Updated 10:33 AM, September 22, 2020
The chipmunk is undoubtedly one of the cutest rodents you will deal with, and one of the most destructive rodents. These small striped natives of North America and Asia are omnivores and can devour everything from beneficial insects to buds, bulbs and other garden plants. Perhaps worse, although they run like lightning to avoid humans, their underground caves may destroy the foundations of houses.
Fortunately, you can stop and, if necessary, humanely remove these small animals from your property. Start with simple, natural deterrence methods, and then take more stringent but still humane measures to pack the little guys when needed. Below, you will find five key strategies on how to get rid of chipmunks running around in the yard.
Chipmunks are so shy and so fast that you might not even notice them in your yard. However, if you see evidence of chewing in the garden, start investigating. Look for holes in the lawn, tiny footprints (four toes on the front, five toes on the back), and piles of seed husks under the bird feeder.
To make your property unattractive to chipmunks, keep your garden tidy by cleaning up windfalls in fruit trees and berry bushes. In addition, you can also consider planting garlic and daffodils as natural insect repellents. Bag small rocks, vines, and debris and discard them where the chipmunk might hide. Keep bird feeders away from the ground, away from fences, porch railings, and other potential chipmunk paths. In order to prevent small animals from approaching the foundation of your home, please avoid shrubs and low rock boundaries near the house, as they provide shelter and transportation for small animals.
There are four main types of chipmunk repellents, which can be used together and for different purposes:
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The Humane Society recommends finding a gentler way to live with the chipmunks while preventing them from eating our plants. Consider installing L-shaped mesh fence barriers at the bottom of foundations, fences, porches, and other walls. Choose gravel borders instead of box shrubs. Plant bulbs in bulb cages, which can be purchased at home centers and gardening supply stores, to protect them.
Humane traps can capture chipmunks without killing them, so you can place them miles away from your property. Choose one or two traps (usually 10 to 20 inches long) for the chipmunk (a trap tends to be easier to operate and is often used by professionals), and wear gloves when setting the trap, because any artificial hint of smell will Scared your quarry. Place traps in areas that you have determined to be the main chipmunk territory: attics, garden sheds, fences and walls, and near the foundations of houses. Peanuts, sunflower seeds and peanut butter are excellent baits, you can put them directly on the trigger board. Set up traps according to the instructions and check frequently so that you can release the rodents in time.
Note: Different regions have different laws for capturing and relocating wild animals, so please carefully check the wildlife regulations of your city before using traps to get rid of loose chipmunks on the lawn.
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