If you've wondered how to get rid of chipmunks, there are a variety of solutions available. Here's how to protect your garden.
Get Rid of Chipmunks and Keep Them Out of Your Garden
Published on Oct. 30, 2024
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Expert Tips to Control Chipmunks
If you’re looking for methods for how to get rid of chipmunks, University of Missouri extension state specialist David Trinklein has three words to follow: Exclude, repel, and remove. “It’s demoralizing spending a lot of time, effort, and money on a garden only to have it destroyed by our four-legged friends,” David says.
To exclude chipmunks, David mentions that a gardener can try burying plastic or metal that extends above and below the ground to serve as a barrier. He also says a key component of exclusion is eliminating habitat. Gardeners should get rid of wood piles, areas of long or overgrown grass, and other places chipmunks would go to hide. “If you remove natural habitat, chipmunks might not be so numerous to begin with,” he says.
The next step, according to David, is repelling. “Given that it’s difficult and expensive to exclude, the next tactic would be to repel,” he says. His tactics for repelling are employing odors chipmunks don’t like, such as cayenne pepper, mint, and coffee grounds. “If you sprinkle spent coffee grounds around your garden, it can help to repel them and it can add nitrogen to your soil,” David says.
He also suggests urine-based deterrents like fox or coyote urine, which can be sprayed around the garden.
Finally, he says gardeners can use decoys of birds of prey or larger mammals to discourage chipmunks, but they should also make sure to change the positioning of the decoy frequently to keep chipmunks from acclimating to them.
Did you know: Each autumn, some chipmunk species hoard food in underground burrows where they spend the winters. These small squirrel-like animals create tunnels as long as 10 feet.
Keep groundhogs out of your garden by following these easy, expert-approved steps.
More Organic Solutions to Deter Chipmunks
“I am looking for an organic solution to prevent chipmunks from damaging my potted plants and ground plantings. Would apple cider vinegar work?” asks Birds & Blooms reader Paula Reiber.
Gardening expert Melinda Myers says, “Some gardeners report success using apple cider vinegar. Apply it to the pots or soak rags and place these on the soil in the garden. Avoid spraying the plants directly as this may damage them.”
Field editor Kathryn Rucci of Orlando, Florida, also endorses this method. “Vinegar can help keep away critters. You have to apply it often enough that the scent stays detectable by humans (and therefore stronger to the animals).”
Melinda adds, “I have also had success with organic animal repellents such as rain-resistant Plantskydd, labeled for controlling squirrels and chipmunks. Applying any commercial or homemade repellent before the animals move in increases your chance of success. Monitor the results and adjust your strategies as needed.”
Can You Remove Chipmunks From Your Garden?
Lastly, David discusses removal. Live trapping provides a means of safely removing chipmunks from your yard. Always make sure to check your local laws before trapping and relocating. It’s illegal to do so in some areas.
Gardeners can find live traps at most hardware stores. “If you’re trapping and relocating chipmunks, make sure you wear heavy leather gloves because they have needle-sharp teeth,” David says.
If it is legal to remove chipmunks where you live and you have the proper tools, make sure to take them at least 5 to 10 miles away.
Keep in mind, some organizations discourage this method of pest control, as it can be impermanent (meaning other animals may move in) or cause problems for the relocated animal.
When you’re done reading about how to get rid of chipmunks, read these tips if you need help deterring deer.
About the Experts
David Trinklein is an adjunct associate professor with the University of Missouri, and horticulture state specialist for University of Missouri Extension. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Lincoln University, and master’s and doctorate degrees in horticulture from the University of Missouri. He has worked for the University of Missouri for more than 40 years.
Melinda Myers is the official gardening expert for Birds & Blooms. She is a TV/radio host, author and columnist who has written more than 20 gardening books. Melinda earned a master’s degree in horticulture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Sources
- Wisconsin Humane Society
- Forest Preserve District Will County – How to Coexist With Chipmunks and Ground Squirrels
