How to Get Rid of Chipmunks Using Traps or Repellants

Chipmunks can be cute and entertaining to watch, but they can also become a nuisance by burrowing under patios and decks, eating plants in the garden, and getting into homes. If chipmunks have taken up residence on your property, you have several options for removing them humanely including trapping and using repellents. With some patience and consistency, you can get rid of troublesome chipmunks for good.

Understanding Chipmunk Behavior

Before implementing any chipmunk removal strategies, it helps to understand what attracts them and why they persist. Some key facts about chipmunk behavior include:

Burrowing: Chipmunks dig elaborate burrow systems with tunnels and chambers for nesting and food storage. Their burrows are often located under sheds, patios, woodpiles, bushes and trees.
Foraging: Chipmunks spend much of their day gathering and storing nuts, seeds, fruits, mushrooms, insects and bird eggs. They carry food in pouches in their cheeks back to their burrows.
Territory: Each chipmunk stakes out its own territory of 1-2 acres. Territories often overlap around common food sources. Males in particular are very protective of their domains.
Seasonal cycles: Chipmunks mate in early spring and females can have up to two litters per year. Young emerge from burrows around late spring. Populations peak in mid to late summer.
Hibernation: Unlike other rodents, chipmunks do not truly hibernate but enter short intermittent periods of torpor in their burrows during winter. They wake regularly to feed from stored food.

Knowing chipmunk habits and cycles will help you implement control methods at the most effective times. It also prevents harming females and baby chipmunks unable to fend for themselves.

Removing Food Sources and Shelter

The first line of defense against chipmunks is removing what attracts them to your yard. This involves:

Eliminating any piles of wood, brush or debris they could use for burrowing or hiding.
Keeping the lawn mowed short so they have less protective cover.
Raking up fallen fruits and seeds from trees.
Removing bird feeders and fallen pet food that provide free meals.
Pruning back vegetation that provides cover or access to your home.
Securing trash in sealed cans and cleaning up spills right away.
Picking ripe vegetables promptly and keeping gardens well weeded.

Without plentiful food and shelter, your yard will be much less appealing to chipmunks seeking to establish territories and burrow systems. However, completely eliminating their necessities is difficult in most environments. Additional repellent and exclusion tactics will be needed in all but the most inhospitable properties.

Using Chemical Repellents

Applying odor and taste repellents is a common and easy way to discourage lingering chipmunks. There are commercial products available, but some homemade options can work too:

Commercial Repellents

Granular repellents containing the active ingredient capsaicin (derived from hot peppers) irritate chipmunks’ respiratory tracts and make areas uncomfortable for them. Sprinkle around gardens and potential burrow sites. Reapply after rain.
Liquid, gel or paste formulations also containing capsaicin can be applied near holes or on pipes and wires to deter chewing and climbing.
Granules with predator scents from coyotes, foxes or dogs trigger instincts to flee and avoid the area.
Moth balls or flakes containing naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene irritate chipmunks’ respiratory systems if scattered near burrow openings.

Follow all label directions carefully when using commercial products. Look for “chipmunk repellent” specifically on the label.

Homemade Repellents

Some homemade concoctions utilizing items you may already have can also be modestly effective:

Mix cayenne pepper with water and spray around plants and burrows. Reapply after rain.
Sprinkle black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder or dried chili peppers around affected areas.
Place open bags or slices of Irish Spring soap near problem sites. The strong fragrance repels chipmunks.
Spread mothballs near holes and entry points (be sure they are not accessible to children or pets).
Spray a mix of vinegar and essential oils like peppermint, lemongrass or cloves.

Monitor areas frequently when using homemade repellents and reapply liberally, especially after rain. Results are often temporary or inconsistent.

Using Exclusion Techniques

Physically excluding chipmunks from getting into your home or garden areas provides a more permanent solution. Common DIY exclusion methods include:

Attach 1⁄4-inch galvanized hardware cloth over potential entry holes or gaps. Use landscape staples to securely hold in place. Monitor for any new digging.
Bury wire mesh fencing at least 12 inches deep around garden perimeters to block burrowing entry. Use a mesh size of 1⁄2 inch or less to exclude young chipmunks.
Install stall mats, paving stones or gravel around the base of sheds and other structures to block digging. Use a layer at least 3 feet wide.
Attach sheet metal guards around poles, pipes, wires and tree trunks that chipmunks could climb. Make sure they are loose enough to prevent chewing around edges.
Seal any openings wider than 1⁄4 inch around foundations, rooflines, walls and windows with caulk or concrete. Cover vents with wire mesh.
Use door sweeps and seal gaps around pipes and wires where they enter the home.

Exclusion takes more time and effort than applying repellents but yields much better prevention once chipmunk-proof barriers are established. Maintain vigilance for any new breaches in your defenses. Combining multiple exclusion tactics creates the strongest protection.

Trapping Techniques

When repellents and exclusion fail to solve a chipmunk problem completely, trapping is the next step. While not always successful at total removal, trapping allows for relocation away from your property humanely. Follow these guidelines for best results:

Choosing Appropriate Traps

Use live traps designed specifically to catch chipmunks without harming them. Available options include cage-style and box-style designs.
Set traps along travel routes between food, burrows and other activity centers. Funnel openings guide chipmunks inside.
Avoid old-fashioned spring-loaded snap traps and glue boards which maim or kill inhumanely. Live trapping allows for release unharmed.

Baiting and Setting Traps

Bait traps with peanut butter, sunflower seeds, dried fruit, nutmeats or grains. Place bait in the back of trap to ensure chipmunks enter fully to get it.
Use cotton balls or crumpled newspaper to provide bedding that keeps trapped chipmunks comfortable.
Activate traps in the early morning when chipmunks are actively foraging. Check traps frequently.
Handle trapped chipmunks carefully using thick gloves. Release at least 5 miles from capture site in a natural, safe environment.
After release, thoroughly disinfect traps to prevent spreading diseases before reusing.
Try varying bait types and trap locations until successful at capturing nuisance chipmunks.

Be aware local regulations may prohibit relocating wildlife off your property. In some cases, it may be necessary to euthanize captured chipmunks humanely as a last resort.

Trap Precautions

Release any accidental non-target animals like birds or squirrels immediately.
Keep traps away from children and pets to avoid injuries.
Use sufficient trap coverage across a wide area, as eliminating a few chipmunks may just open territory for new ones to move in.
Be prepared for increased activity and trap avoidance early in the season before chipmunks establish routines.

With persistence, live trapping can help reduce an overabundant chipmunk population. But permanent removal may require ongoing trapping efforts as new chipmunks invade from adjoining properties.

Natural Predators

In some cases, attracting natural predators that feed on chipmunks may help control populations. Predatory species known to hunt chipmunks include:

Hawks – Especially Cooper’s hawks most adept at pursuing small mammals in forested yards. Provide perches and habitat for hawks.
Owls – Barred owls and screech owls are most likely to hunt over home landscapes. Install owl boxes to provide roosting sites.
Foxes – Gray foxes eat mice, voles, squirrels and chipmunks. Tolerate their presence unless they become problematic.
Snakes – Kingsnakes and gopher snakes hunt chipmunks. Avoid killing harmless snakes.
Cats – Free-roaming outdoor cats will hunt chipmunks attracted to your yard. But keep cats indoors to protect local wildlife.

Unfortunately, most predators take substantial chipmunk populations to impact numbers. And they often hunt at night when chipmunks are less active. Attracting predators may remove some chipmunks but is unlikely to solve major infestations.

When to Call a Professional

In severe cases of extensive burrowing or large chipmunk infestations, you may need professional help:

Nuisance wildlife control experts have specialized exclusion tools, stronger traps and can legally translocate chipmunks off your premises.
Pest control professionals can apply commercial repellents liberally across large areas and provide expert guidance on defensive exclusion techniques.
Extermination services may legally be able to use lethal methods like gas fumigants in burrows as an absolute last resort if other controls fail.

While professionals employ more intensive practices, their work is rarely a permanent fix for relentless chipmunks. Ongoing maintenance using the methods detailed in this guide will still be required after calling in help. Prevention is ultimately the best and most lasting solution.

Maintaining Chipmunk Protection Long-Term

Keep nuisance chipmunks away for good through diligent maintenance:

Inspect exclusion barriers and make repairs promptly at the first sign of breaches.
Reapply repellents liberally before rainy periods and after warm winters with more chipmunk activity.
Eliminate new food sources immediately – keep pet food inside,install trash can locks, promptly remove fallen fruit/seeds, etc.
Use live traps preemptively even when chipmunk problems seem solved to catch newcomers right away.
Monitor for new burrow systems during peak seasons in early summer and fall and fill them in before colonies become established.
Discourage landscaping conducive to burrowing and cover – avoid wood piles, dense vegetation and brush along foundations.
Work with neighbors to implement controls uniformly if chipmunks originate from adjacent yards.

With constant vigilance and a combination of removal methods, you can stay one step ahead of persistent chipmunks for a yard free of their nuisances. Don’t let your guard down!

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to some common questions about controlling chipmunk problems:

How long do chipmunk removal efforts take to work?

It often requires 2 to 3 weeks of consistent trapping, exclusion and repellent use to fully eliminate chipmunks from a property. Quick fixes are rare as new chipmunks will keep invading.

What if I catch baby chipmunks in traps?

If trapping in late spring/early summer, promptly release any captured juvenile chipmunks nearby to give them a chance to survive on their own. Otherwise avoid trapping during breeding seasons.

Do ultrasonic repellers work on chipmunks?

There is no scientific evidence that ultrasonic devices repel chipmunks or other wildlife. Save your money, as they are an ineffective solution.

Will mothballs or ammonia deter chipmunks from my garden?

The strong odors may mask food smells briefly, but mothballs and ammonia quickly dissipate outdoors. Neither provides reliable garden protection.

Can I use rat poison to kill chipmunks?

Never use any poisons. Chipmunks dying underground leads to persistent bad odors. Poisoned chipmunks can also be eaten by and kill pets, hawks or owls.

Why do chipmunks keep coming back after I trap and release them?

Released chipmunks can find their way back over surprising distances. Relocating them at least 5 miles away is necessary to prevent this.

Is it safe to handle trapped chipmunks without gloves?

Always wear thick protective gloves when releasing chipmunks from traps. Their sharp teeth can bite and transmit diseases even if they appear unharmed.

Conclusion

Persistent chipmunks can be incredibly difficult to discourage from burrowing and feeding in your yard. While none of the control methods covered here will provide a complete solution alone, used diligently in combination they can help protect your home and garden. The keys are patience, thoroughness and flexibility in your strategies.

Start first by removing habitat and food sources. Then establish exclusionary barriers secured tightly in place. Supplement these with taste and odor repellents applied frequently. Live trapping allows for additional removal of lingering chipmunks. Work to attract natural predators whenever feasible too.

Stay observant for new chipmunk activity and be prepared to adapt your control plan. Small breaches in your defenses can allow chipmunks to regain footholds. So make maintenance and re-treatment part of your regular seasonal routines. With persistence, you can reclaim your yard and garden from destructive chipmunks.