How to Keep Chipmunks Out of a Garden: Methods and Tips

Chipmunks are small animals in the rodent family that sometimes resemble small squirrels with white and black stripes down their backs. They are native to North America and are related to other small rodents like voles and raccoons. Chipmunk diets consist mainly of nuts, bugs, vegetables, and sunflower seeds—all ingredients which they can easily acquire from garden beds and bird feeders. Chipmunks chatter constantly, and although they are solitary creatures, a diverse and thriving garden space can increase chipmunk activity to the point of a complete infestation.

In addition to the annoyance of the chipmunks’ constant chirping and chattering, these garden pests can wreak havoc on your landscaping and flower beds. Their burrowing tunnel system can damage roots and provide the chipmunks with easy access to subterranean food sources like the flower bulbs of tulips, daffodils, and other bulb plants. Additionally, if chipmunks decide to hide their stolen birdseed underneath your prized fruit trees, these holes can lead to excess water accumulation and wood rot.

You can use several natural methods to resolve a chipmunk problem in your garden that will be more humane than the installation of a live trap.

• Install physical barriers. You can lay chicken wire or hardware cloth on top of the area where you planted your bulbs, and weigh it down with rocks or soil around the edges. To thoroughly protect your bulbs from all angles, you can construct “cages” around each bulb before you plant them. These protective structures allow shoots to grow through the gaps while also keeping the bulb safe from prying paws.
• Rely on natural remedies. Several natural chipmunk repellent options will ward off the presence of these meddlesome rodents. You can prepare your homemade repellent spray bottle with strong odor ingredients like peppermint, chili powder, cayenne pepper, or soapy water. You can also plant hot peppers in your garden or plant your bulbs with mothballs or castor oil. Some store-bought products containing predator urine can also assist in keeping chipmunks away from your garden.
• Set a humane trap. If all other measures fail, trapping chipmunks can be an efficient strategy to remedy an infestation. You can use peanut butter to lead chipmunks away from your garden or lure them into a humane trap. Be careful when relocating chipmunks since many rodents can carry rabies or other diseases. Thoroughly clean up the cage after relocation because your human scent could diminish the trap’s effectiveness at catching additional chipmunks.

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