There are different types of rodents to cause problems in your garden or yard. From rats to chipmunks, mole to gophers, these are all destructive rodents. Out of all the rodents, chipmunks are probably the cutest. However, you shouldn’t give in to their cuteness as they are capable of causing heavy damage to your yard and garden.
Chipmunks belong to the squirrel family, but they are smaller in size. They look cute and fun but can cause various problems in your yard. If you are desperate to get rid of chipmunks, you are in the right place. In this post, we will suggest to you some of the effective ways to help you keep chipmunks away from your home. So without wasting time, let’s dive into the details.
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Table of Contents
How Do You Know If You Have a Chipmunk Problem?
Chipmunks are tiny rodents who are very swift in their movement. They don’t make a lot of noise while being around. This is why it is hard to spot them so easily. This leads us to the question of how to know if you have a chipmunk problem? You should look out for these signs in your garden or yard:
1. Evidence of Damage
Check your plants, fruits, and flowers in your garden. If you notice something has been munching on your plants, there are high chances a chipmunk caused it. Also, check your flower or garden bed as they tend to burrow small holes.
2. Chirping Sound
If you keep hearing high-pitched chirping noises coming from your garden, it is most likely a chipmunk. They can even enter your house if you don’t pay attention.
3. Tiny Footprints in the Garden
Look for tiny footprints in your garden or yard. They have five toes on the hind feet and four toes on the front feet. If you find footprints matching the description, then you have a chipmunk problem at hand.
Just so you know, chipmunks are most active during the day. The best time to spot them is during mid-afternoon or mid-morning. Watch out for these tiny rodents during the daytime, and you will surely spot them if you have any in your garden.
List of Effective Ways to Get Rid Of Chipmunks
Now that you know how to find out a chipmunk problem, it’s time to learn how to keep them away. No matter how harmless and cute they look, having them in your garden or around the house is not a good idea. So you must try everything in your power to get rid of them. We are not asking you to kill them. There are also humane ways to keep them away. This section will discuss some of the most effective ways to remove chipmunks from your garden or yard.
1. Make Bird Food Unpleasant
One of the easiest ways to get rid of these tiny rodents is to remove the things that attracted them in the first place. Many homeowners tend to have a bird feeder placed in their garden or yard. If you are one of them, then you must place it 15 feet off the ground. Also, make sure that it is at least 10 feet away from the fences and other structures. Besides that, you should regularly clean the bird feeders and the spilled seed. Make sure that these tiny rodents don’t get what they want. You can also add some hot peppers. Don’t worry, as birds can eat peppers. It is the chipmunks that will be repelled.
2. Use Natural Repellents
No matter how big of a mess they create, you don’t want to hurt the little chipmunks in your garden. But at the same time, you also want to keep them away. In this case, you can use natural repellents to get them off your property. One of the best options you have is mothballed. It acts as a natural repellent which will help keep them away. Toss a few mothballs in your garden/yard and even around the holes made by them. This will automatically repel them as they cannot tolerate the smell of mothballs.
3. Apply Pepper on Your Plants
How to get rid of chipmunks, you ask? We say, apply pepper on your plants! Yes, we are not joking. Spraying some pepper spray or hot sauce around the base of your plants can help keep the culprits away. However, you should keep in mind that it may also affect the pollinators. This is because the capsaicin in cayenne is harmful to bees. If that bothers you, then you can use deer repellent or blood meal instead.
4. Build a Barricade
Sometimes creating a good defense is the best solution. You can prevent these little critters from burrowing by installing barriers. Go for the L-shaped barriers of hardware cloth or mesh fencing around the base of your house, porches, fences, and sidewalks. You must also use this hardware cloth on top of bulbs and around your garden beds. You can also consider buying bulb cages to stop them from nibbling on your plants.
5. Clean Up Bushes & Trees
Make sure you regularly clean and prune the trees and bushes in your yard. If you notice any tree branches touching your roof, trim them. By doing so, you can prevent chipmunks from entering your home. Besides, it will make it difficult for them to climb on top of the house. You must always keep your garden clean by pruning the bottom layer of bushes and shrubs. This can prevent them from making holes in the ground underneath. Once they cannot find a safe place to hide under the bushes, they will move to a new location.
6. Remove Wood & Rock Piles
We also recommend you remove the wood and rock piles from your yard or garden. It provides a safe place for them to hide. But once you get rid of the woodpiles, they will no longer have a safe place. This will force them to move to a safer location away from your house.
7. Trap & Remove Them Humanely
Sometimes these little critters can also enter your house. If you spot a chipmunk inside your home, trap them. You can use a humane trap to get the little guy under control. Once you catch the chipmunk, release it miles away from your home. It is better than killing them. The best way to catch chipmunks using a trap is by setting it close to their prime territory. This includes spots like woodpiles, gardens, and attic. You can also install the traps along the walls and fencing in your garden.
8. Escort Them Out
There’s another way of removing chipmunks from inside your house. When you spot a chipmunk in your house, don’t panic. The chances are that the chipmunk is more scared than you are. The first thing you should do is shut all your interior doors. Make sure that the little guy doesn’t enter deeper into your house. With the critter, nowhere else to escape will be right in front of your eyes. Now, wide open all the exterior windows and doors. Use a blanket to shoo the little rodent out of your house. But mind you, this is only a temporary solution as they keeping coming back.
9. Implement Some Technical Ways
If you want more effective ways to get rid of chipmunks, you can use electronic repellents. These are designed to either produce ultrasonic vibrations or release blasts of water. These repellents are both high-tech and non-toxic, so you have to worry about killing them. By using these high-tech repellents, you can keep the little critters away. You can also make use of beach balls. All you have to do is inflate beach balls and leave them to bounce around your in your backyard. Chipmunks are timid animals, and they don’t like unexpected motions. This will help scare them away.
10. Call for Professionals
If you have too many chipmunks in your garden or none of the methods work, then you should seek professional assistance. These professionals know exactly what to do to remove them from your house. Moreover, they have the right tools and equipment to trap and get rid of them.
Chipmunks are tiny rodents that can damage your flower and garden beds. They munch on fruits and flowers and even harm your plants. Now that you know how to get rid of chipmunks, it should be easier for you to remove them.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When Should You Seek Professional Help?
If you are unable to get rid of the chipmunks yourself, call for professional help. You should also seek professional help when there are too many chipmunks for you to handle alone. These professionals have the right tools to handle these little critters.
Can Hot Pepper Keep Chipmunks Away?
Yes, by placing hot peppers in the bird feeder or anywhere near their primary territory, you can keep them away. That’s because they don’t like the taste of hot peppers.
