Chipmunks are cute and fun to watch in action, however, they can also cause various problems in your garden and your yard. These small furry creatures can cause big problems in your home’s structure and foundation and they can even destroy your outdoor gardens and walkways.
According to the report of National Geographic, there are 25 species of chipmunk and 24 of which mainly live in North America. That is why chipmunks can be found almost everywhere in North America. And they are also known to carry various diseases, which could severely affect you and your family.
So, you might want to know how to get rid of chipmunks, if they are causing problems at your home. And there are a few ways to get rid of them safely and humanely and to protect your home and lawn from chipmunks moving back in.
In this article, we have shared 7 simple and effective ways on how to get rid of chipmunks from your house. Also, here we have covered how you can identify a chipmunk infestation and how you can prevent chipmunks from coming back to your place.
So, let’s get started.
Table of Contents
How To Identify A Chipmunk Infestation
Chipmunks usually tend to be quick and quiet, which makes them really hard to spot. Sometimes, you may have a chipmunk problem in your yard and not even know it. So, here are a few ways that would help you to identify a chipmunk infestation.
- Check For Damage In Your Gardens: If you found that something has been munching on your plants, flowers, and fruits, then you may have a chipmunk problem. And in some cases, chipmunks choose to burrow in gardens and flower beds. So, always try to keep an eye out for damage to your gardens.
- Chipmunk Footprints In Your Yard: If you have got a chipmunk infestation, then you should spot chipmunk footprints in your yard. And chipmunks have four toes on the front feet and five toes on the hind feet, so you should keep a look out for prints in the dirt around the sides of your home or garden.
- Evidence Of Chipmunks Tunneling Around Your Home: Chipmunks can build tunnels underneath your walkways and home. So, if you found chipmunks tunneling around your home, you will need to take care of the pest problem as fast as possible to prevent any further structural damage.
- High-Pitched Chirping Noises: If you have a chipmunk inside your home, then you need to listen out for high-pitched chirping noises. And if you find a chipmunk in your home, you should make it easy for them to escape. Because maybe they don’t want to be inside your house.
How To Get Rid Of Chipmunks From Indoor: 7 Effective Ways
Chipmunks can destroy your yard and foundation and the best or most effective way to stop the damage from chipmunks and other rodents is by preventing an infestation from occurring in the first place. Here we have shared 7 simple ways on how to get rid of chipmunks in and around your house.
1. Regularly Trim Trees And Bushes In Your Yard
To get rid of chipmunks from your home, you need to make sure to regularly trim trees and bushes in your yard. Any tree limbs or shrubbery that starts to touch your roof should immediately be trimmed back.
Because this will make it harder for them to climb on top of your house. Also, the bottom layer or part of shrubs and bushes should be trimmed frequently to prevent chipmunks from burrowing underneath.
And when the chipmunks start to feel that they can no longer hide their burrows under shrubs, they will likely move on to a safer location.
Also, you should not allow trees, shrubs, or other plantings to run continuously from wooded areas to your home, because this will draw chipmunks in.
2. Removing Wood Or Rock Piles From Around Your Home
According to various studies, removing wood or rock piles from around your home can help you to prevent a chipmunk infestation. Because these piles usually provide cover and safety for chipmunks, which makes them an easy place for rodents to make their homes.
And to keep chipmunks from burrowing beneath the pile or under the foundation of your home, you have to keep firewood and leaf and debris piles away from your home.
And if you live in heavily wooded areas, it is pretty much natural to find all manner of creatures in your yard.
You can also store these wood piles in a plastic sealable bin, which is even better because it would keep them dry. And this method is very useful as it can also help you to deter other pests like spiders.
3. Plant Those Flowers That Won’t Attract Chipmunks
If you have chipmunks in your garden and you want to get rid of them, then you should plant flower bulbs inside either wire cages or planting cubes. Because this should prevent chipmunks from eating the bulbs and also deter them from entering your garden.
You can easily find these bulb cages at home centers and gardening supply stores. You also have another option, which is simply planting flowers that would not attract chipmunks. According to different reports, not all flower bulbs attract chipmunks and squirrels.
Also, you can place 1/4-inch mesh hardware cloth as fencing around your gardens and flowers. And your fence should be at least eight inches deep so they can’t burrow underneath.
This wire mesh fence also often has cracks and spaces through which chipmunks can pass, you should be careful about that.
4. Create Your Own L-shaped Footer Fence
You can install an L-shaped footer near your home to prevent chipmunks and other rodents from burrowing in and around your property. This type of fence can easily be used in your yard and in your gardens.
This wire meshed fence is generally extended out into an “L” shape on the ground or underneath the ground. And if you have the proper skills and knowledge, you can also create your own L-shaped footer fence.
Also, you can surround your yard or home with a plant-free gravel border. And you can even use a barrier of wire mesh or garden fabric. Because building barriers both under and above the ground are a vital part of integrated pest management.
5. Set A Humane Trap
If you have a chipmunk inside your home or one in the yard that is particularly annoying, then it may be a good idea to trap them.
And you should set a humane trap, which means once the chipmunk is caught, you would resettle them a few miles away from your home.
Also, we strongly recommend you to avoid killing them. You should place the trap in those areas where chipmunks are mostly spotted.
It often includes your garden and wood piles. Also, it is a good idea to place traps along fencing and walls that are near the foundation of your home.
You can use peanuts, sunflower seeds, and peanut butter as bait. Also, birdseed and fruit are very popular bait options for chipmunks.
You can easily buy these traps at your local hardware store, however, you should always double-check local regulations about trapping and releasing animals.
6. Remove The Bird Feeder From Your Yard
Chipmunks generally love bird feeders, because these creatures feed on all those things, including fruit, nuts, and bird seed. If you have a bird feeder in your yard, then you may have seen a chipmunk munching on the delicious bird seed that is inside.
So, one of the best ways to prevent a chipmunk infestation is by removing the bird feeder from your yard. And chipmunks will particularly eat some types of plants, bulbs, and bird seed.
If you have noticed that there are certain things around your yard or home that the chipmunks prefer to feed on, try to remove them, or put them out of their reach.
You should also try to place the bird feeders at least 15 to 30 feet away from any structure in your yard. And you need to choose seeds to which chipmunks and squirrels are generally not attracted.
7. Use a Rodent Repellent
There are plenty of rodent repellents available on the market that you can try to get rid of chipmunks. Sprays and repellents are mainly sold at retailers, however, you can create your own homemade repellent very easily.
The most common homemade repellents are pureed garlic, hot peppers, or a combination of both. Also, you can sometimes use ultrasonic sound that is undetectable to the human ear to keep rodents like chipmunks out of your yard and garden.
And you can easily find those devices that do this online for a reasonable price. Also, some natural repellents can be sprayed directly onto the plants that chipmunks usually eat.
A mixture of water and cayenne pepper or chili powder is one of these repellents. And keep in mind that you might have to reapply these natural repellents frequently.
How To Search For Chipmunks And Their Holes
When you find the answers to your question of how to get rid of chipmunks, you will see that you have a number of choices. And when you already know what chipmunks actually look like, then you should know when to look for them.
Chipmunks are generally the most active during the day. And they can easily be spotted mid-morning and mid-afternoon.
So, you should start your search for these rodents during a time of day when you know they are most likely to be active. And you can also increase your chances of spotting a chipmunk in your yard by finding the burrows.
Because chipmunks are very protective of their burrows and will vocalize to let you know if you are getting too close to their burrows. And burrows are generally small holes in the ground and can easily be spotted near walkways.
However, it is not common to have a chipmunk problem inside your house, because these rodents usually tend to stay outside, but sometimes they find their way indoors.
How To Prevent Chipmunks From Coming Back To Your Yard
When you try to repel or trap chipmunks, there is always a chance that they can make their way back to your yard or house. And to prevent them from coming back, you can try the following methods. Also, most of these methods will also help keep away insects and spiders.
- You should clear your yard debris, rock piles, and wood from your yard to remove their hiding places and trim back overgrown bushes regularly.
- When berries, seeds, nuts, or similar things fall to the ground, try to sweep them up as soon as possible to remove the food sources of chipmunks.
- Always try to store birdseed and pet food in airtight containers.
- You should put a wire mesh fence around the garden, buried almost 8 inches into the soil.
- Also, you can bury special L-shaped barriers or footers near your house foundations, around decks, and anywhere else where you want to prevent chipmunks from tunneling.
Wrap Up On How To Get Rid Of Chipmunks
Chipmunks are one of the cutest pests, however, they can cause damage to your yard and also spread various diseases. But, there are a few humane options that can help you get rid of chipmunks in your yard.
And if you have tried the different products available with very little success, then the best option is to call the professionals so that you can get chipmunks out of your yard and have them re-homed in a place that is better for everyone.
So, if you don’t have enough time and want the chipmunks out as fast as possible, then you should go for some professional help.
We hope that our detailed article has helped you to find out how to get rid of chipmunks and if you have any questions on this topic, please leave a message in the comments below.
FAQ: How To Get Rid Of Chipmunks
As a lot of people want to know how to prevent and treat a chipmunk infestation in and around their houses, they have many different questions about this topic. Here I have tried to answer some of those commonly asked questions in the FAQ section.
Q1. What Smell Keeps Chipmunks Away?
Ans: Chipmunks absolutely can’t stand the smells of certain strong oils such as peppermint, citrus, cinnamon, and eucalyptus, and also chipmunks generally can not stand the smell of garlic.
Q2. Do Chipmunks Come Out At Night?
Ans: Chipmunks are generally day-dwellers and they do not leave their burrows at night. However, their main period of inactivity is during the hottest months of the year. And they rarely leave their nests during those months.
Q3. How Do You Find A Chipmunk Nest?
Ans: Their burrows are usually hidden near wood piles, stumps, brush piles, basements, and garages and those burrows are generally around 20-30 feet in length. And it also includes food storage and nesting areas.
