You may think chipmunks are adorable, cuddly creatures, but they become much less cute when they start digging up your flower beds. If you have an infestation and you’re wondering how to get rid of chipmunks, some of the best methods for getting rid of chipmunks are using human hair, animal urine, cayenne pepper spray, chemical repellants, ultrasonic repellers, and chipmunk traps.
Still, getting rid of chipmunks can be challenging, especially if you’re looking to do it in a humane way. Your best option is to contact pest companies like Terminix for chipmunk removal to solve your problem permanently. However, trying a few DIY methods first is never a bad plan. In this article, I’ll explain all about how to get rid of chipmunks, how to prevent them from coming into your yard, and how to know when you have a serious chipmunk problem.
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6 Ways to Get Rid of Chipmunks
Once chipmunks take up residence on your property, they can destroy your lawn and garden and can even do structural damage to your home. Below, I’ll describe how to get rid of chipmunks in six different ways, using both natural and chemical products. You can use these methods to get rid of ground squirrels, too.
1. Human Hair
A natural DIY pest control method is using human hair to get rid of chipmunks. Chipmunks are naturally afraid of humans because they see them as predators, so the scent of human hair around your property could be enough to solve your issue. Simply sprinkle the hair over the ground and wait to see if your chipmunk issues continue. You could use your own hair, or you could go to your local barber or hairstylist to get some.
What you’ll need: A small bag of human hair from a local barber.
2. Animal Urine
Much like how chipmunks are afraid of humans, other animal scents will also naturally repel them. As another humane method, you can spray fox urine around your property, and the strong smell of urine will deter the chipmunks from entering. Humans usually find the smell of fox urine unpleasant, but it can also help prevent and get rid of raccoons, as well as squirrels, skunks, and other small rodents.
What you’ll need: Sprayable fox urine from your local hardware store or Amazon.
3. Cayenne Pepper Spray
Another natural remedy is to use hot pepper spray on the plants chipmunks typically eat. The strong smell and flavor of cayenne pepper will stop chipmunks from feeding, which can cause them to travel elsewhere in search of food and shelter. Simply mix two or three teaspoons of cayenne pepper with two cups of water and spray onto the plants that your chipmunks have been eating.
What you’ll need: Cayenne pepper and a spray bottle.
4. Chemical Repellents
If you find that the natural repellents above aren’t working, you can turn to squirrel or rodent repellents from your local hardware store. These are either spray formulas or granular formulas that include unpleasant-tasting chemicals like thiram that deter chipmunks. You can also use mothballs as a common repellant. Most of these are safe for other animals, but you should check to make sure they won’t be harmful to your pets or the environment.
What you’ll need: A squirrel or chipmunk repellent from your local hardware store or Amazon, as well as a garden spreader if you choose a granular product.
5. Ultrasonic Repellers
Finally, you can try an electronic repellent, which you can get from your local hardware store or online. When you plug this device into an exterior outlet, it will emit ultrasonic frequencies that naturally repel chipmunks. These deterrents aren’t known to be particularly effective for chipmunks underground, but you can use them in addition to the other strategies above to keep chipmunks at bay.
What you’ll need: An ultrasonic rodent repeller from your local hardware store or Amazon and an exterior outlet.
6. Chipmunk Traps
Finally, you can use non-lethal or live traps for chipmunk control, but you’ll then have to bring them somewhere else to release them where it’s legal to do so. If you need to resort to this method, it’s best to contact a professional exterminator. If you’re set on using a DIY solution, you can use sunflower seeds, peanut butter, or even pet food as a natural squirrel bait that also works for chipmunks.
What you’ll need: Humane traps or help from an exterminator like Terminix.
How To Know You Have a Chipmunk Infestation
Usually, seeing a chipmunk on your property doesn’t necessarily mean you have an infestation. Chipmunks can travel about a third of a mile in search of food, so they might just be coming to your property to feed (which you should also prevent, if possible). However, there are some signs that confirm you have a chipmunk issue.
First, you might notice chipmunk activity, including holes in the ground near trees or stumps. If they’re between two and four inches in diameter, these could be chipmunk burrows, indicating chipmunks are living on your property. Smaller holes in your lawn or garden beds can indicate chipmunks are feeding on your plant roots.
You also might notice chipmunk tracks or seed piles near bird feeders, which can be signs of chipmunks on your property. However, squirrels also leave similar tracks, so refer to the other signs to confirm a chipmunk problem.
Is it Legal To Shoot Chipmunks?
In most states, you can legally shoot chipmunks However, be sure to check on your state’s laws before trying any shooting. According to wildlifehelp.org, shooting chipmunks isn’t necessarily the best way to effectively remove them. For one, they’re extremely small and quick, so you have to be a really good shot to hit your mark. Second, traps and preventative measures are simply more effective for keeping large crowds of chipmunks at bay.
If you’re deadset on shooting them, consult your local law. Chipmunks aren’t protected under federal law, but they may be protected under state law, so do your due diligence in order to legally and effectively get rid of chipmunks.
How To Prevent Chipmunks
Usually, it’s easier to prevent chipmunks from coming to your property in the first place than it is to remove them. Below are just a few things homeowners can do to help deter chipmunks from making themselves at home on your property:
- If you have bird feeders, keep the birdseed inside until you’re ready to fill them.
- Clean nuts and other tree debris off your lawn at least once a week.
- Get rid of yard debris, like woodpiles, piled grass clippings, sticks, and other ground cover, which can serve as a home for chipmunks.
- Use underground rodent barriers like hardware cloth or wire mesh around your home’s foundation and garden to prevent burrowing and feeding.
- Make sure to seal all entry points to your home with caulk or foam.
- Clear your property of any things that could attract pests.
These strategies can also help with other pest infestations, especially squirrels and other rodents.
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Hiring a Pest Control Company
Chipmunks can be challenging critters to get rid of, especially if they’ve reproduced or established long-term burrows on your property. If the above methods don’t work, I recommend calling professionals. Contacting a company like Terminix means you’ll get the best solutions for your chipmunk problem, which can include lethal methods in extreme cases where other methods won’t work. If you’re unsure of how to get rid of chipmunks or if other natural methods haven’t worked for you, calling a pest control company is the final step to solving your chipmunk problems.
Best Pest Control Companies
Choosing the right pest control company for your chipmunk issue can make a world of difference in getting quick and effective service. Below, we’ll take a look at two of the best pest control companies you can contact for help.
Terminix
Terminix is our top-rated pest control company because they excel at providing affordable solutions for a massive number of pests, including chipmunks.
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Terminix serves 45 states and provides natural solutions for pests, as well as lethal and synthetic treatments for insects and rodents, including chipmunks. Their technicians are highly trained professionals, and they offer both one-off services and annual plans.
Orkin
Orkin is another reliable pest control company that provides a huge array of services for all of your pest control needs.
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
Orkin handles chipmunks, rodents, birds, and most insects, so they do it all. They also offer one-off treatments, trapping services, and annual pest prevention plans. Their techs are knowledgeable and highly trained, and they offer affordable rates. From personal experience, I can attest to their professionalism and effective service when they solved mouse and roach problems in my big city apartment. Orkin also has great emergency pest control services, so if you need a quick fix, they may be your best bet.
Final Thoughts on Getting Rid of Chipmunks
Chipmunks may seem harmless enough, but their feeding and burrowing can cause serious problems for your home, especially if chipmunks burrow under your home’s foundation. To prevent serious chipmunk damage, it’s best to handle your pest problems quickly. There are several solutions above that aren’t lethal and can be an easy fix, but if your infestation is too large or if the aforementioned solutions aren’t working, it may be time to call for professional help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Like most animals, chipmunks seek out food and shelter. Items like logs and other piled landscaping debris, birdseed, flower bulbs, and trees that drop nuts, seeds, or berries can be magnets for chipmunk infestations.
According to the National Library of Medicine, chipmunks can carry several diseases, e rabies, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever, and even the plague. Chipmunks won’t normally bite humans or pets to spread disease, but they can bite if they’re scared or provoked.
Chipmunks can cause property damage if they burrow around your foundation, porch, or patio, which they often do. These chipmunk holes can create loose soil that can eventually lead to cracks in your foundation, leaks, instability, or other chipmunk damage.
Most of the time, you can identify a chipmunk issue by spotting burrow holes. These holes are normally between two and four inches in diameter and will appear most often near your home, trees, or yard debris. You can also look for seed piles near bird feeders, chipmunk tracks, and plant bulbs pulled out of the ground, as these are all warning signs of a chipmunk problem.
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