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Chipmunk Control: How to Identify, Deter, and Remove These Backyard Pests
Most people find chipmunks adorable with their chirping sounds, puffy cheeks, and bushy tails. However, these seemingly harmless creatures can cause damage to gardens, patios, retaining walls, and even building foundations with their persistent digging and burrowing. This guide provides a comprehensive look at chipmunks, including identification, potential problems, and effective control methods.
What are Chipmunks and What Do They Look Like?
Chipmunks are small, ground-dwelling rodents often mistaken for tree squirrels. While both share a similar family, key differences exist. Chipmunks are noticeably smaller, averaging five to six inches long, compared to the 11 to 13-inch length of squirrels. Their distinguishing feature is the five dark stripes running down their tan to reddish-brown backs and heads. Unlike squirrels, chipmunks also carry their bushy tails upright. They primarily inhabit wooded and forested areas.
The Chipmunk Diet: What Do They Eat?
Chipmunks are omnivores, consuming a wide variety of foods. Their diet includes vegetables, berries, roots, bulbs, nuts, seeds, insects, snails, bird eggs, and even small snakes. A significant behavior of chipmunks is their habit of stuffing their cheeks with food to transport it back to their burrows for winter storage. This foraging behavior often leads to conflicts with homeowners.
Why Are Chipmunks Considered Pests?
While not inherently dangerous, chipmunks can create several problems for homeowners. Their extensive burrowing activities can undermine walkways, stairs, patios, and foundations, causing structural damage over time. They also disrupt gardens by digging through flower beds and vegetable patches, uprooting plants in search of food. Like squirrels, they often raid bird feeders, depleting seed supplies intended for birds.
Do Chipmunks Pose a Danger to Humans?
Chipmunks generally avoid confrontation, relying on speed and agility to escape predators. However, they may bite or scratch if cornered or feeling threatened.
Chipmunk Bites: What to Do
Though rare, chipmunk bites can occur. If bitten, thoroughly clean the wound with soap and water, apply antibiotic cream, and cover with a bandage. Seek medical attention if any signs of infection develop, such as redness, swelling, or pus.
Diseases Associated with Chipmunks
While chipmunks are not considered major disease carriers, they can harbor certain viruses and bacteria, including Colorado Tick Fever and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Importantly, chipmunks are not known to transmit rabies to humans. Caution: Never attempt to hand-feed a chipmunk, as this increases the risk of being bitten.
Effective Chipmunk Control: Outdoor Strategies
Numerous humane methods exist to manage chipmunk populations and deter them from causing damage.
Repelling Chipmunks
- Cayenne Pepper Spray: A mixture of cayenne pepper and water sprayed around affected areas can deter chipmunks.
- Ultrasonic Devices: These emit high-frequency sounds that irritate chipmunks, encouraging them to leave the area.
- Planting Deterrent Plants: Daffodils, onions, hyacinths, and marigolds are known to repel chipmunks with their strong scents.
- Mothballs: While effective, mothballs are toxic if ingested and should only be used in areas inaccessible to children and pets.
- Visual Deterrents: Hanging shiny objects like pie tins, CDs, or beach balls can scare chipmunks away.
Trapping and Removal
- Humane Traps: Bait traps with sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, raisins, cereal, or nuts, and release captured chipmunks far from your property.
Lethal Control (Use with Caution and Check Local Regulations)
- Aluminum Phosphide Tablets: These react with moisture in the soil to produce a toxic gas. Use only in accordance with local regulations and with extreme caution due to potential harm to humans and pets.
- Gas Cartridges: These release carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide into burrows, asphyxiating chipmunks. Use with extreme caution due to fire risk.
Dealing with Chipmunks Indoors
If a chipmunk enters your home, it’s likely accidental. Open exterior doors and windows, secure pets, and allow the chipmunk to escape on its own. If necessary, use a humane trap baited with food to capture and release it outdoors.
How to Eliminate Chipmunk Tunnels
Successfully eliminating chipmunk tunnels requires a two-step approach:
- Population Control: Implement the methods described above to reduce or eliminate the chipmunk population.
- Filling Burrows: Locate tunnel entrances (typically two to three inches in diameter) and fill them with dirt, a dirt and gravel mixture, or used cat litter. Using used cat litter can deter chipmunks due to the scent of a potential predator.
Long-Term Chipmunk Prevention
- Seal Entry Points: Use caulk to seal any cracks or openings in your home’s foundation or walls.
- Landscape Management: Remove potential harborage sites like dead tree stumps, rock piles, and brush.
- Protective Barriers: Use wire mesh or L-shaped footers around gardens, foundations, and other vulnerable areas.