How to Get Rid of Chipmunks: Simple and Effective Tips
Chipmunks may look cute, but they can cause real problems in your garden and around your home. They dig up flower bulbs, raid bird feeders, and sometimes even sneak indoors. If you’re wondering how to get rid of chipmunks safely and effectively, here’s a complete guide with practical methods you can use.
1. Remove Food Sources
Pick up fallen fruits, nuts, and seeds from your yard.
Move bird feeders at least 15 feet away from your house.
Clean up spilled birdseed under feeders.
Keep pet food indoors to avoid attracting chipmunks.
2. Clear Hiding Spots
Remove woodpiles and rock piles where chipmunks burrow.
Trim overgrown shrubs and bushes near your home.
Fill unused burrows with gravel or soil.
Seal compost bins tightly so chipmunks can’t get inside.
3. Use Smells They Hate
Place peppermint oil cotton balls near burrows.
Scatter used coffee grounds around plants.
Spread human or pet hair in garden beds.
Sprinkle cayenne pepper in areas where they dig.
Use predator urine repellents from garden stores.
4. Eliminate Chipmunks with Traps
Traps can be very effective when other methods don’t work.
Live traps: Let you catch chipmunks and relocate them several miles away.
Snap traps: Work like rat traps but kill instantly. (⚠️ Check your state laws—chipmunks are protected in some areas.)
Best bait: Peanut butter, sunflower seeds, or other nuts.
5. Use Natural Repellents
Homemade sprays can help keep chipmunks away from plants.
Garlic & pepper spray: Blend garlic and hot peppers, steep in hot soapy water, strain, add a little oil, then spray on plants.
Other repellents include castor oil, predator urine, or ammonium soap.
6. Make Landscaping Changes
Chipmunks love places to hide. Remove what attracts them:
Avoid rock walls and thick shrubs near your house.
Replace mulch with gravel in problem areas.
Keep your lawn and garden edges neat and trimmed.
7. Attract Natural Predators
Work with nature to keep chipmunks away.
Put up an owl box in your yard. Owls feed on chipmunks and other small rodents.
This also helps control voles, moles, mice, and rats.
8. Scare Them Away
Install motion-activated sprinklers to surprise chipmunks.
Place owl or hawk decoys in your garden.
Use reflective tape or wind chimes to create noise and movement.
9. Last Resort: Give Them a Food Source
If nothing works, you can try a different approach:
Place food (like seeds or nuts) far away from your garden.
This keeps chipmunks busy in another spot and reduces damage.
While you won’t get rid of them, you can still enjoy watching them without losing your plants.
10. Call a Professional
If chipmunks are inside your house, or you have a large infestation, it’s best to call pest control. Professionals can remove them safely and suggest long-term prevention strategies.
Final Thoughts
The best way to get rid of chipmunks is by combining prevention, repellents, and barriers. Keep your yard clean, remove hiding spots, and use safe deterrents. If the problem continues, traps, natural predators, or professionals can help.
With these simple steps, you can protect your garden while keeping chipmunks under control.
