Chipmunks are a familiar sight in many yards, often causing small-scale chaos in garden beds. They are primarily attracted to gardens because they offer an easy source of food and shelter. The question of whether these small, striped rodents will eat marigolds is common for gardeners looking for a natural way to protect their plants. While no plant is completely immune to damage, marigolds are generally considered a strong deterrent against chipmunks compared to other common garden flowers.
Understanding Chipmunk Dietary Preferences
Chipmunks are omnivores, relying heavily on seeds and nuts to build up fat reserves. Their natural foraging includes seeds, nuts, berries, mushrooms, and various forms of plant matter, alongside insects and small vertebrates. This extensive palate makes them adaptable, especially in suburban environments where they readily exploit accessible food sources.
They are known for their diligent caching behavior, using their cheek pouches to transport food back to their elaborate underground burrow systems. These burrows include separate chambers for nesting and food storage, which they stock heavily before winter. Since chipmunks enter periods of torpor rather than truly hibernating, a large, non-perishable food cache is essential for survival during colder months.
If natural food sources like acorns and wild berries are scarce, chipmunks become more opportunistic. They may turn to cultivated grains, fruits, and vegetables found in gardens, such as tomatoes, corn, and strawberries. This opportunism often brings them into conflict with gardeners, as they will sample plants they might otherwise ignore.
Marigolds: Attraction or Deterrent?
The direct answer to whether chipmunks eat marigolds is typically no; they do not consume them as a preferred food source. Marigolds are widely recognized as a chipmunk-repellent plant. The primary reason for this avoidance is the strong, pungent odor and bitter taste produced by the foliage and flowers.
This strong scent is due to chemical compounds, such as thiophenes and essential oils, which act as natural deterrents to various pests. French marigolds, in particular, have a strong fragrance that small rodents find disagreeable. Chipmunks rely heavily on their sense of smell to locate food and detect predators, and they are discouraged by this overwhelming aroma.
However, the presence of marigolds does not guarantee a plant will be untouched, as damage can still occur indirectly. Chipmunks may dig around the roots while searching for insects or recently planted bulbs, mistaking the disturbed soil for an easy caching spot. If food is extremely limited, a chipmunk might sample the flowers or foliage. However, they rarely consume enough to cause significant sustained damage, unlike their preferred targets like tulips. Marigolds are more likely to be used as a natural barrier to protect tastier plants.
Practical Strategies for Garden Protection
Relying solely on marigolds is often insufficient for protecting garden beds; gardeners should implement physical and environmental modifications.
Physical Barriers
One effective method is using physical barriers around vulnerable plants. Hardware cloth with a quarter-inch mesh can be buried a few inches deep around the perimeter of a garden to prevent chipmunks from burrowing under a fence.
Managing Food Sources
Managing external food sources is another important step, especially addressing bird feeders, which are a major attractant. Using squirrel-proof feeders or placing a tray beneath them to catch spilled seed can immediately reduce the chipmunk presence. Switching from black oil sunflower seeds, a chipmunk favorite, to thistle seed, which they dislike, can also help.
Eliminating Shelter
Modifying the landscape to eliminate shelter makes the area less appealing. This involves trimming back dense ground cover, clearing out brush piles, and removing woodpiles, as these provide excellent hiding spots from predators. Combining these methods with the planting of aromatic deterrents like mint, alliums, or lavender offers the best chance of keeping chipmunks away.