Many of us would concur with this statement that
chipmunks
They are charming. Whether it’s the chirping sounds they produce or their chubby, fluffy faces and plumage-tipped tails resembling feather boas, who can resist enjoying these tiny creatures as they dart around?
Even though chipmunks typically don’t lead to significant damage to property, they still do
dig up gardens
While collecting fruits and nuts. Additionally, their digging can cause harm to patios,
retaining walls
, stairs and foundations.
Here, we take a closer look at chipmunks: What they are, what they eat, if they’re dangerous or not, and reasons why you might want to get rid of them.
Also, learn how to
get rid of raccoons
.
What Is a Chipmunk?
Frequently mistaken for tree squirrels, chipmunks are predominantly ground-dwelling rodents that inhabit mainly wooded and forested areas. To someone without proper training,
chipmunks and squirrels
They might appear alike, but they actually aren’t.
In contrast to squirrels, chipmunks feature tan to reddish-brown fur adorned with five distinct dark stripes along their backs and heads. Their furry tails stand erect as well, setting them apart further from squirrels which they exceed significantly in size. Typically measuring about five to six inches in length, an ordinary chipmunk is considerably shorter than a squirrel, whose length ranges between 11 to 13 inches.
What Do Chipmunks Eat?
Chipmunks are omnivorous creatures, consuming nearly everything available: this includes vegetables, fruits like berries, roots, bulbs, various types of nuts and seeds, insects, slugs, avian eggs, and surprisingly, small reptiles such as snakes. Once these critters have filled their cheek pouches with provisions, they transport the loot back to their underground tunnels where they stockpile it for the colder months ahead.
What Makes Chipmunks a Issue?
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.
Critter Control
says chipmunk burrows can cause issues around your property and can sometimes be up to 30 feet long and several feet deep. The adorable animals are also known to chew wood, which can cause damage around your home.
Another common complaint: Chipmunks dig through
flower beds
and uproot
vegetable patches
when foraging for food. Like squirrels, they can also
steal bird seed from feeders
.
Are Chipmunks Dangerous?
Chipmunks aren’t particularly aggressive. They elude predators with speed and agility, quickly darting and ducking into a hole or scaling up a tree.
Bites
If cornered, a chipmunk will defend itself by scratching or biting its way free. In the rare event that you do sustain a chipmunk bite, immediately clean the wound thoroughly, then apply an antibiotic cream and bandage. If the area shows signs of infection, seek medical attention right away.
Disease
Chipmunks aren’t considered high risk for spreading infectious diseases. The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The CDC has recognized specific viruses and bacteria transmitted by chipmunks, such as Colorado Tick Fever and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. However, chipmunks do not appear to spread rabies to people.
Caution: Refrain from attempting to feed a chipmunk manually. Doing so is inviting problems.
Ways to Eliminate Chipmunks Outside
Several kind approaches are available for addressing troublesome chipmunks. If you’re aiming to
repel or kill chipmunks
Here are some useful suggestions.
- Create a spraying solution using cayenne pepper and water.
-
Use an
ultrasonic zapper
. The vibrations send chipmunks packing. - Plant toxic daffodils or grow onions, hyacinths and marigolds. Chipmunks hate the scent.
- Immerse non-food bulbs in thiram, a fungicide that repels various types of rodents.
-
Scatter
mothballs
Around the basement, garage, and shed areas. Mothballs can be toxic if swallowed, so avoid using them around kids or animals. - Suspend pie pans, CDs, or beach balls from trees to deter chipmunks.
-
Catch chipmunks with a
humane trap
. - Should it be allowed in your state, place aluminum phosphide tablets inside the rodent burrows. These tablets interact with the soil moisture to produce a poisonous phosphine gas, which then suffocates the pests. (Refer to the note below for details.)
- Available at numerous hardware and garden retailers, gas cartridges generate carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide gases within burrows, resulting in suffocation of chipmunks. (Refer to the following note for more details.)
-
If legal in your area, kill them with a small-gauge shotgun or .22-caliber rifle with birdshot. Don’t try this unless you’re experienced with firearms. Per the
Firearm Industry Trade Association
(NSSF), don’t shoot unless you know exactly what your shot is going to strike. More importantly, be sure your bullet will not injure anyone or anything beyond your target.
Note: Fumigants create toxic fumes that can be harmful to humans and pets. Gas cartridges have a
chance of sparking and causing fires,
So avoid using them close to structures or buildings.
Ways to Eliminate Chipmunks Inside Your Home
If a chipmunk happens to enter your house, it’s likely unintentional. Here’s how you can get rid of them:
- Separate dogs and cats in a room or cage;
- Close all interior doors;
- Unlock and open the windows and doors that lead outdoors.
- Wait for the chipmunk to find its way out.
If that doesn’t work, try this:
-
Set a
humane trap
using sunflower seeds, pumpkins, raisins, cereals, or nuts as bait for it; - Set the chipmunk free in nature again.
Ways to Eliminate Chipmunk Burrows
We have discovered that chipmunks gather and stash their food in subterranean burrows. These burrows consist of two kinds of tunnels: shallow ones for summertime use and deeper ones for wintertime purposes, reaching depths up to 30 feet.
Since these tunnels consist of multiple distinct connections, they may contain numerous unsightly elements.
holes dispersed across your yard,
“According to Ed Spicer,” states
Pest Strategies
Not only do these tunnels spoil the aesthetics, but they also cause harm to structures like homes, garages, or sheds as the ground beneath them becomes increasingly hollow over time.
Here’s how you can block chipmunk burrows:
Step 1
Remove the chipmunks (refer to the previous information); otherwise, blocking their holes will be ineffective. They will simply create new tunnels.
Step 2
Locate tunnel openings. Search for gaps measuring about two to three inches wide near walls, foundations, stacks of firewood, and tree stumps.
Step 3
Take a shovel and fill the holes with soil, or a blend of soil and small gravel.
used
cat litter,
compressing as you pack. Signs of cat droppings and urine suggest a predator might be nearby.
Sand coated with fast-setting concrete can be useful near foundations and walls. Once you’ve filled the gaps, add two to three inches of topsoil over them for concealment.
ground cover
can grow back.
Should these attempts prove unsuccessful, it might be necessary to enlist the help of a professional pest control specialist.
How To Deter Chipmunks
Basic actions you can take to prevent chipmunk invasions both inside and outside your home encompass:
-
Use
seal entry points using caulk
around the home. -
Remove dead
tree stumps
, clusters of rocks and overgrown areas close to your home, garage, or other structures. -
Plant seeds
And bulbs under a mesh or plastic shield. - Put in L-shaped footers (mesh barriers) to prevent chipmunks from digging beneath foundations, sidewalks, and porches.
-
Place
bird feeders
a minimum of 15 feet away from your house.
About the Expert
Ed Spicer is a specialist in pests with
PestStrategies.com.
