How To Get Rid of Chipmunks

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How To Get Rid of Chipmunks Outdoors

Many humane methods exist to deal with problematic chipmunks. Whether you’re looking to repel or remove them, here are options that can help.

  • Make a spray mixture of cayenne pepper and water.
  • Use an ultrasonic zapper; vibrations can drive chipmunks away.
  • Plant daffodils or grow onions, hyacinths and marigolds; chipmunks dislike these scents.
  • Soak non-edible bulbs in thiram, a fungicide that deters many rodents.
  • Scatter mothballs around the basement, garage and shed. Note: Mothballs are poisonous if ingested; avoid using them if you have children or pets.
  • Hang pie tins, CDs or beach balls in trees to create visual deterrents.
  • Catch chipmunks with a humane trap.
  • If permitted in your state, drop aluminum phosphide tablets into a burrow. They react with soil moisture to create toxic phosphine gas. (See note below.)
  • Sold in many hardware and garden stores, gas cartridges produce carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in tunnels, killing chipmunks by asphyxiation. (See note below.)
  • If legal in your area, kill them with a small-gauge shotgun or .22-caliber rifle with birdshot. Don’t attempt this unless you’re experienced with firearms. Per the Firearm Industry Trade Association (NSSF), don’t shoot unless you know exactly what your shot will strike, and ensure nothing beyond your target is at risk.

Note: Fumigants create toxic fumes that can be harmful to humans and pets. Gas cartridges also carry a risk of igniting and starting fires, so don’t use them near structures or buildings.

How To Get Rid of Chipmunks Indoors

If a chipmunk enters your home, it’s likely accidental. Use a controlled, low-risk approach:

  1. Isolate dogs and cats in a room or crate.
  2. Close all interior doors.
  3. Open windows and doors leading to the outside.
  4. Wait for the chipmunk to find its way out.

If that doesn’t work:

  1. Set a humane trap with sunflower seeds, pumpkin, raisins, cereal or nuts as bait.
  2. Release the chipmunk back into the wild, following local regulations.

How To Get Rid of Chipmunk Tunnels

Chipmunks harvest and store food underground in burrows. There are two types of tunnels: shallow summer tunnels and deeper winter tunnels (up to 30 feet).

“Because these tunnels have a network of several different connections, there can be a multitude of different, unsightly holes scattered throughout your yard. Not only are these tunnels ugly, but over time, the hollowness of the ground below your home, garage or storage shed can do damage to its structure.”— Ed Spicer, Pest Strategies

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