How to Get Rid of Chipmunks: 8 Safe & Effective Methods
Yes, you can get rid of chipmunks using safe and humane methods. The best approach combines natural deterrents, habitat changes, and exclusion techniques to keep these small rodents away from your property without causing harm.
While chipmunks might look cute with their puffy cheeks and striped backs, they can cause real problems around your home. They dig holes in your yard, eat your garden plants, and can even damage your home's foundation with their tunnels. This guide will show you exactly how to deal with chipmunks the right way - keeping them away while being kind to these little creatures.
Why Chipmunks Come to Your Yard
Understanding why chipmunks visit your property helps you fix the problem at its source. Chipmunks are attracted to yards and gardens that provide ample food, water, and shelter. They especially love areas with:
- Bird feeders and spilled seeds
- Fallen fruits and nuts
- Pet food left outside
- Flower bulbs (especially tulips)
- Soft soil for easy digging
- Rock piles and wood stacks for hiding
Chipmunks are territorial and rarely become abundant enough to cause a lot of damage, although populations can reach 20 individuals in a single urban yard according to the University of Georgia Extension. If you see more than 2-3 chipmunks at once, you need to act quickly before the population grows larger.
Signs You Have a Chipmunk Problem
Before you start any removal efforts, make sure you actually have chipmunks. Here are the clear signs to look for:
Visual Signs
- Small holes in your yard (about 2 inches wide)
- Tunnels under patios, decks, or walkways
- Chewed plants and missing flower bulbs
- Scattered bird seed under feeders
Behavioral Signs
- Seeing small striped animals during daytime
- Hearing chattering or chirping sounds
- Finding small piles of nut shells
- Noticing damage to fruits and vegetables
During the dry months, they often shred leaves to get to the moisture in the plants. This leaf damage is another clear sign of chipmunk activity.
Natural Ways to Get Rid of Chipmunks
The safest and most effective methods use natural approaches that don't harm chipmunks or other wildlife.
Use Strong Scents They Hate
Chipmunks have sensitive noses, so certain smells can keep them away effectively.
Spicy Solutions
Cayenne pepper is the secret to keeping chipmunks out of your garden. Sprinkle ground cayenne pepper around:
- Garden beds
- Under bird feeders
- Around flower bulbs
- Along fence lines
You'll need to reapply after rain or watering, but most chipmunks will avoid these spicy areas after just one taste.
Essential Oil Repellents
Essential oils like peppermint, citrus, cinnamon, and eucalyptus can work wonders in deterring chipmunks. Mix a few drops with water in a spray bottle and apply around problem areas. The oils you can use include:
- Peppermint oil
- Eucalyptus oil
- Cinnamon oil
- Citrus oils (lemon, orange)
- Clove oil
Garlic and Soap Solutions
Chipmunks don't like garlic. You can plant garlic around your garden or make a spray by mixing crushed garlic with water. An age-old remedy of my grandmother's also works well: recycling used dishwater or used soapy laundry water by dumping it on the gardens.
Remove Their Food Sources
The most important step is making your yard less attractive to chipmunks.
Fix Bird Feeder Problems
- Clean up spilled seeds daily
- Use squirrel-proof feeders
- Try mounting your bird feeder on a metal pole
- Consider removing feeders completely during problem periods
Garden and Yard Cleanup
Keep your property clean by:
- Picking up fallen fruits and nuts
- Removing pet food from outside
- Storing garbage in sealed containers
- Clearing brush piles and wood stacks
Regular cleanup of fallen fruits, nuts, and seeds is crucial. These food sources can draw chipmunks into your yard.
Plant Chipmunk-Repelling Plants
Some plants naturally keep chipmunks away because of their smell or taste.
Best Deterrent Plants
Plants such as alliums and daffodils in areas where chipmunks frequent work very well. The most effective plants include:
- Daffodils - Toxic to chipmunks and smell bad to them
- Alliums - Strong onion-like scent repels rodents
- Marigolds - Pungent smell chipmunks avoid
- Garlic chives - Natural deterrent with cooking benefits
- Lavender - Pleasant for humans, repelling for chipmunks
Planting daffodils with your other flowering bulbs can mask the scent of tulips and help protect them.
Strategic Planting Tips
Place these deterrent plants:
- Around garden borders
- Near problem areas
- Between attractive plants
- Along pathways chipmunks use
Use Water as a Deterrent
Chipmunks don't like water (they really hate thunderstorms!), so running your sprinkler system will send them scattering. Motion-activated sprinklers work even better because they surprise the chipmunks and teach them to avoid the area.
Physical Methods to Keep Chipmunks Out
Sometimes you need to create barriers to protect specific areas.
Install Hardware Cloth and Fencing
Protect your most valuable plants with physical barriers:
- Bulb Protection : Plant flower bulbs beneath a wire or plastic screen ground cover or in bulb cages
- Garden Beds : Use 1/4 inch hardware cloth buried 6 inches deep
- Foundation Areas : Install L-shaped barriers to prevent burrowing
Create Gravel Borders
Incorporating gravel or stone borders around garden beds can act as a physical deterrent. Chipmunks don't like walking on rough gravel, so a 2-3 foot border can protect your plants.
Seal Entry Points
Exclude chipmunks from buildings whenever possible. Seal holes where gas lines, cooling lines, electric cables, dry vents or cable TV lines enter the house. Use caulking or 1/4-inch welded wire for gaps larger than a quarter.
Safe Trapping and Relocation
If other methods aren't working, humane trapping might be necessary. However, it's important to understand that live-trapping and relocation rarely ends well for wildlife , with studies showing that up to 97% of relocated animals either die or disappear from their release areas, so this should be a last resort.
When to Consider Trapping
Only trap chipmunks if:
- They're causing structural damage
- Other methods have failed completely
- You can relocate them properly
- It's legal in your area
Proper Trapping Methods
Trapping is the easiest method to control chipmunks according to wildlife specialists. The large wooden-base snap traps used in rat control are effective in chipmunk control. For humane removal:
- Choose the Right Trap : Use small live traps (10-20 inches long)
- Best Baits : Peanut butter alone or mixed with oatmeal makes good bait
- Trap Placement : Place traps along runways at burrow openings or in other areas of chipmunk activity
- Check Frequently : Never leave chipmunks trapped for more than a few hours
Relocation Guidelines
If you choose to relocate trapped chipmunks:
- You should relocate chipmunks at least five miles away from the area they originally inhabited
- Choose wooded areas with natural shelter
- Get permission before releasing on private property
- Releasing live animals into unfamiliar territory is not recommended and usually results in high mortality among the released animals
Many wildlife experts now recommend against relocation due to low survival rates and stress to the animals. Research from PETA's wildlife specialists confirms that "releasing a chipmunk in a strange area will almost surely result in his or her death."
Commercial Products That Work
If natural methods need extra help, some commercial products can be effective.
Safe Repellent Products
- Plantskydd : Its main ingredient is dried blood and will last through six months of winter
- Critter Ridder : Uses black pepper and capsaicin as deterrents
- Thiram-based repellents : For treating bulbs before planting
Ultrasonic Devices
Ultrasonic devices emit vibrations and sounds that unsettle chipmunks and will keep the rodents out of your garden for good. While results vary, many homeowners find them helpful when used correctly.
Methods That Don't Work
Save your time and money by avoiding these ineffective approaches:
Ineffective Solutions
- Essential oils, hanging up a scarecrow, using balloons or beach balls as scare tactics, sprinkling human hair around your flower beds, or setting up a sonic repellent device
- Mothballs (also dangerous and often illegal)
- Static scare devices like fake owls
- Most home remedies without scientific backing
Dangerous Methods to Avoid
Never use these harmful approaches:
- Poison : Can harm pets, children, and other wildlife
- Glue traps : Cause unnecessary suffering
- Flooding burrows : Can damage your property's foundation
Avoid toxic baits. They are not recommended because any animal—including cats and dogs—can get into them and be negatively impacted.
Prevention: Keep Chipmunks Away Long-Term
The best approach is preventing chipmunks from settling in your yard in the first place.
Habitat Modification
Make your property less attractive by:
Removing Shelter Options
- Clear brush piles and fallen logs
- Trim vegetation around foundations
- Remove rock piles near your home
- Keep grass and weeds cut short
Landscape Design Changes
- Choosing plant species that are less appealing to chipmunks, such as daffodils or garlic
- Creating open spaces without hiding spots
- Using plants chipmunks naturally avoid
Ongoing Maintenance
Stay ahead of chipmunk problems with regular upkeep:
- Weekly yard cleanup of food sources
- Monthly inspection of potential entry points
- Seasonal reapplication of natural repellents
- Annual assessment of landscaping choices
When moving to a new home, consider these chipmunk prevention strategies early. If you're looking for reliable local movers or need help with your relocation, professional moving services can help make your transition smooth while you set up your new yard correctly.
When to Call Professionals
Some situations require expert help:
Call Wildlife Control If:
- Chipmunks are inside your home regularly
- You have extensive property damage
- Population is very large (10+ chipmunks)
- DIY methods aren't working after several weeks
Professional Services Include:
- Proper assessment of the problem
- Safe and legal removal methods
- Exclusion work to prevent return
- Advice on long-term prevention
For structural damage repairs or moving services in your area, consider contacting emergency moving services if chipmunk damage affects your relocation timeline.
Understanding Chipmunk Behavior
Learning about chipmunks helps you deal with them more effectively.
Basic Chipmunk Facts
The Eastern Chipmunk is a small rodent measuring 8 to 10 in. long according to the University of Georgia's wildlife research. They have several key behaviors:
- Active during daytime - Unlike many rodents, you'll see them during day hours
- Territorial nature - They defend small areas aggressively
- Food hoarders - Collect and store food for winter
- Excellent climbers - Can reach bird feeders and high places
Seasonal Activity Patterns
Understanding when chipmunks are most active helps time your control efforts:
- Spring : Emerge from winter dens, start breeding
- Summer : Peak activity, raising young, gathering food
- Fall : Intensive food collection for winter storage
- Winter : Less active but not fully hibernating
Chipmunk populations ebb and flow, depending on the availability of food and cover. Some years you might see very few, while other years they seem everywhere.
Legal Considerations
Before taking action against chipmunks, understand the legal requirements in your area.
Check Local Laws
ALL non-game wildlife is protected in Georgia ; therefore, it is illegal to kill any species unless specifically permitted by regulations. Similar laws exist in many states, so:
- Research your local wildlife regulations
- Check if permits are needed for trapping
- Understand relocation laws in your area
- Know what methods are legally allowed
Homeowner Rights
Generally, homeowners can protect their property from mammals causing or about to cause damage. This typically allows reasonable control measures but doesn't permit unlimited killing or harmful methods.
Final Thoughts
Getting rid of chipmunks doesn't have to involve harsh methods or expensive solutions. The most effective approach combines several natural techniques: removing food sources, using scent deterrents, modifying your landscape, and creating physical barriers where needed.
Remember that chipmunks are part of a healthy ecosystem and provide benefits like controlling insects and dispersing seeds. The goal should be managing their population around your home, not eliminating them completely from the area.
Start with the gentlest methods first - clean up food sources, apply natural repellents, and make habitat changes. Most homeowners find success with these approaches within a few weeks. If problems persist or you're dealing with property damage, consider professional help before attempting more aggressive control methods.
The key to long-term success is consistency. Keep up with preventive measures even after the immediate problem is solved. A clean, well-maintained property with natural deterrents will stay chipmunk-free much easier than trying to fix a major infestation later.
If you're planning to move and want to avoid chipmunk problems at your new home, professional packing services can help ensure your belongings stay safe during the transition while you focus on setting up proper wildlife prevention measures.
