Do you have problems with chipmunks?

They may look like tree-dwelling squirrels with their tiny noses, puffy cheeks, and bushy tails, but chipmunks aren’t baby squirrels. Believe it or not, the two are different but related animals. Chipmunks are ground squirrels; they are the burrowing cousins ​​of the larger tree-climbing species. This, of course, accounts for the choppy look of your garden lot. These furry critters dig and build their houses and shelters underground. This is what sets them apart from their tree-loving relatives, who spend most of their time in trees.

In addition to their choice of real estate and their relative smallness, squirrels differ from their cousins ​​by possessing identifying stripes. Chipmunks are distinguished by two broad black stripes that run from the top of the head to the rounded buttocks. This is the most telling sign that the creature chewing on the spring flower bulb is a chipmunk. That, and the raucous “chip chip” retort they make when you lunge at them with newspaper in hand.
Approaches to Control of Chipmunks

Before deciding how to get rid of chipmunks, it is important to know their habits. Chipmunks are power eaters. They spend their lives eating, foraging, and storing food. What is the key to getting rid of chipmunks? The key is to find out what chipmunks eat. Squirrels eat everything from grass to pizza crust. Their main diet generally includes fungi, plants, nuts, grains, seeds, and the odd insect. At their worst, chipmunks have also been known to catch small birds and small rodents such as shrews, although they do not actively seek out these hardy protein sources; they are content to search the ground for edible finds. Chipmunks are not born to be climbers, but they have been observed climbing roofs, poles, trees, and bird feeders to collect seeds, acorns, and nuts.

In addition to food, chipmunks are also wary of wide open spaces, which is not surprising since they live underground. They tend to stay in shaded areas even while searching for food. Their burrows are usually built in the shade of solid matter like a tree stump or your porch. In your quest to eradicate chipmunks, these are two weaknesses you must exploit to put an end to your chipmunk problems.

*Reader Tip* Several readers have had success with the “cube method.” This is Jonathan’s original advice: “You can get a bucket of water and float sunflower seeds on top. Make a ramp to get to the bucket. It’s a foolproof method: the chipmunk can’t get out.”
get rid of chipmunks

Now that you know your weaknesses, it’s time to put your knowledge into action. As much as these furry critters wreak havoc in your garden, one can hardly think of shooting them dead. There are many other ways to get rid of chipmunks, so get creative.

An inexpensive chipmunk control option is to keep a pet. In the urban jungle, cats can be an effective (and diffuse) weapon against these vicious furballs. If you’re feeling adventurous, choose from badgers, weasels or hawks. These are the natural predators of chipmunks. They stalk their prey in the shade and the poor chipmunk will have no idea what happened until he hits the predator’s belly.

For a less morbid option, live squirrel traps are effective removal tools sold at most hardware stores. You can get a couple of comfortably sized traps and just add seeds, nuts, oats, or whatever your chipmunk takes a fancy to. Secure traps in shaded areas or where your enemy hangs out frequently. Patience is not even required because where there is food, chipmunks will come. Once trapped, drive to the other side of town and let the critters out. Better yet, drop them off at the nearest national park.

If this doesn’t work, just give these furballs a taste of their own medicine. The trick to getting these squirrels to leave your place voluntarily is to limit their food supply. You don’t have to bare your garden; just spray pepper solution or hot sauce on your plants and in the places where your furry friend stays and it will surely shed.

Still, if these tricks don’t work, your chipmunks are a tough bunch. Just dial up pest control and invest in a professional chipmunk extermination program. Now that’s a surefire way to get rid of chipmunks.