At first glance, chipmunks appear to be cute, harmless little critters. What isn't quite as endearing is the amount of destruction these squirrel-like rodents can create. While you might think of chipmunks as feasting on nuts, berries, seeds and grains, they also take great pleasure in digging for roots and tubers and can eat young shoots and leaves. Chipmunks love to build nests underground, in stone walls or near fallen logs.
Female chipmunks breed twice a year and can have four to five babies per season, so imagine how much damage a large extended family of these burrowing varmints can do to your plants and property! An effective chipmunk repellent like Critter Ridder®, along with a reliable trap like the Havahart® Small 1-Door Easy Set® Trap can be your best defense against chipmunk damage.
Using Chipmunk Repellents
Learning how to repel chipmunks is easy as long as you choose the right repellent. Chipmunk repellent tips include using a homemade concoction made with ingredients like cayenne pepper and water, or purchasing a premium multi-species repellent that is proven to work. Unfortunately, the homemade remedies may only work some of the time and require frequent reapplication.
Can You Use Baking Soda to Get Rid of Chipmunks?
Some people even use baking soda for chipmunk repellent. Unfortunately, when it comes to baking soda, chipmunks just don’t seem to view it as much of a deterrent for staying out of your garden.
How to Get Rid of Chipmunks in Your Garden
The most effective answer to the question of how to get rid of chipmunks in gardens, lawn and landscaping areas is to use a specially made repellent that targets the chipmunk’s keen sense of taste and smell. Choose one a Critter Ridder® Animal Repellents. It’s proven to work on chipmunks, and better than getting a snootful of cayenne pepper!
Chipmunk Trapping Tips
If you’re the adventurous type, you can try your hand at trapping chipmunks. The best chipmunk trap has a tight mesh pattern to prevent “Alvin” from squeezing his little body through. A trap that’s ideally suited for a chipmunk’s body type is the Havahart® Small 1-Door Easy Set® Trap.
As an alternative, an upside-down box propped up with a stick attached to a string can also work. Important tip: place a board underneath the box to make it easier to pick up and transport the trapped chipmunk. A trapped chipmunk can become extremely agitated (and who could blame it?), so don’t leave it in the trap overnight, as the anxiety could result in its death.
How to Get Rid of Chipmunk Problems with Proper Trap Baiting
Properly baiting a chipmunk trap is important. Did you know that chipmunks are peanut butter connoisseurs? They even enjoy a morsel of cheese now and then. Other effective chipmunk bait includes prune pits, unroasted peanuts, corn, sunflower seeds, cereal, grains and popcorn. Be sure to put bait near, in and on the trap, so that they’re guaranteed to be drawn in by the tantalizing aroma. Now that you know how to get rid of chipmunks, you can put an end to your chipmunk invasion safely and humanely.
