Chipmunks are small, striped rodents that often transition from being amusing backyard visitors to significant household nuisances. Their behavior of extensive burrowing can compromise the integrity of landscaping and structures near foundations, patios, and walkways. This guide offers practical, step-by-step methods for managing chipmunk populations, focusing on both preventative measures and physical removal techniques.
Identifying Signs of Chipmunk Presence
Confirmation of a chipmunk problem begins with recognizing the subtle signs they leave behind. Chipmunk burrow entrances are characteristically small, measuring approximately 1 to 2 inches in diameter, and appear clean of excavated dirt. The animal carries the soil away in its cheek pouches and scatters it to camouflage the entrance from predators, meaning there is no visible dirt mound like a mole or groundhog would leave.
These discreet entrances are often located near protective cover, such as under stone walls, rock piles, dense shrubbery, or close to a building’s foundation or deck. Other evidence includes damage to garden plants, specifically missing flower bulbs, seeds, and fruits, which they collect for their underground food caches. Observing the animals moving along predictable routes, known as “runs,” confirms their presence and helps identify ideal locations for control measures.
Exclusion and Habitat Modification
Modifying the environment makes the area less attractive and physically inaccessible to chipmunks. Since they are attracted to easily accessible food sources, eliminating them is the first step. Securing outdoor pet food, cleaning up spilled birdseed, and removing fallen nuts and berries from the yard all reduce available sustenance.
Physical barriers offer the most effective long-term protection for structures. Chipmunks can squeeze through small gaps, so sealing any openings in foundations, vents, and spaces beneath decks or sheds is necessary. Use galvanized hardware cloth with a mesh size of \(1/4\) inch to prevent entry, as this material is gnaw-resistant and too small for the rodents to pass through.
Clearing dense cover near structures also discourages burrowing activity close to the home. Woodpiles, rock stacks, and heavy ground cover should be kept away from the foundation, as chipmunks use these areas for cover while digging their complex tunnel systems. Consistent digging near a foundation can compromise its stability over time.
Live Trapping and Relocation
Active removal using live traps is the primary method for managing established chipmunk populations when exclusion alone is insufficient. The most effective traps are small, single-door wire mesh live traps designed for rodents. To increase success, wear gloves when handling and setting the trap to prevent leaving behind human scents, which can deter the cautious animals.
Effective baits mimic their natural diet. Highly successful attractants include:
- Peanut butter
- Sunflower seeds
- Nut meats
- Oats
Place the bait strategically behind the trigger plate inside the trap, ensuring the animal must fully enter and step on the plate to reach the food. For a few days before setting the trap, wire the door open and place bait inside to condition the chipmunk to enter safely.
Once a chipmunk is captured, check local and state regulations regarding the legal procedures for relocating nuisance wildlife. Many jurisdictions have specific rules about whether relocation is permitted and the required distance from the capture site. When allowed, release the animal at least 5 to 10 miles away in a suitable natural habitat to prevent its return.
When Professional Help is Needed
Homeowners may need to seek professional assistance when a chipmunk problem proves too extensive or complex for do-it-yourself methods. An infestation involving a high density of animals, or one that repeatedly fails to respond to trapping and exclusion, requires professional intervention. Professionals are equipped to handle large-scale removal and implement comprehensive, long-term exclusion strategies.
Structural damage is another clear indicator that professional help is necessary, especially if burrows appear to be undermining concrete patios, walkways, or the foundation of the home. Wildlife control operators can access hard-to-reach areas, such as inside walls or beneath inaccessible crawlspaces, where chipmunks may have established a nest. They can also ensure that all entry points are properly sealed with durable, permanent materials after the animals have been removed.